Suresh Raina

Suresh Kumar Raina (born 27 November 1986 in Muradnagar, Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh) is a retired Indian cricketer celebrated for his powerful left-handed middle-order batting, effective off-spin, and spectacular fielding. Dubbed “Mr. IPL,” he was the first Indian to score centuries in all three international formats. As a former vice-captain of Chennai Super Kings and captain of Gujarat Lions, Raina played a pivotal role in Indian cricket’s white-ball era. A key member of India’s squads that lifted the 2011 Cricket World Cup and the 2013 Champions Trophy, he also captained India at a young age, becoming the second-youngest to lead the nation. 

Early Life

Born into a Kashmiri Pandit family, Raina is the youngest of five siblings—three elder brothers and a sister. His father, Trilokchand, was a retired army officer, and the family moved from Muradnagar to Lucknow so Suresh could attend the esteemed Guru Gobind Singh Sports College. At just 15, he captained Uttar Pradesh’s Under‑16 team and toured England with the India U‑19 squad, where he made back‑to‑back half-centuries. He made his Ranji Trophy debut for Uttar Pradesh in February 2003 at age 16, before earning a Border‑Gavaskar scholarship to train at the Australian Cricket Academy. That early first-class season was impressive—645 runs at an average of 53.75.

Personal Life

Raina married his childhood friend, Priyanka Chaudhary, on 3 April 2015. Their families have longstanding ties—Priyanka’s father was Raina’s sports coach. They’ve welcomed two children: daughter Gracia (born May 2016) and son Rio (born March 2020). In 2017, to mark Gracia’s first birthday, the couple launched the Gracia Raina Foundation, aimed at empowering women and adolescent girls, particularly in reproductive and maternal health. The foundation has led initiatives in prisons, schools, and communities under the #EveryMother campaign. Raina is also an ambassador for the Swachh Bharat Abhiyaan and Swachh Shauchalaya Campaign.

Domestic Career

Ranji & Early Performances

Raina represented Uttar Pradesh from 2002/03 to 2020/21. In addition to his successful early seasons, he was named Player of the Series in the 2007–08 NKP Salve Challenger Trophy after scoring 206 runs for India Blue. He also starred in the 2013 Irani Cup, earning Man of the Match honors for Rest of India with crucial contributions.

IPL & T20 Leagues

From the inaugural IPL in 2008, Raina became a mainstay for Chennai Super Kings (CSK), eventually becoming vice-captain. Over approximately 205 IPL matches, he scored 5,528 runs, including 1 century and 39 fifties, with a highest score of 100*, an average of around 32.5, and a strike rate near 136. He smashed 100 sixes in IPL—becoming only the second player after Chris Gayle to do so. Additionally, he holds records for most catches in IPL (107) and was the first player ever to cross 5,000 IPL runs.

In the 2010 Champions League T20, Raina was Player of the Series and topped with 234 runs as CSK clinched the title. He also led Urbanrisers Hyderabad (Toyam Hyderabad) in the Legends League Cricket from 2023, taking the team to the finals in its debut season.

Test Career

Matches Runs HS Average 100s 50s Wickets
18 768 120 ~26.5 1 7 13

Raina made his Test debut against Sri Lanka in July 2010 and scored a debut century—one of the highlights of his Test career. While his Test average hovered around 26.5 with a total of 768 runs and 13 wickets, red-ball cricket remained his least effective format.

ODI Career

Matches Runs HS Average 100s 50s Strike Rate
226 5,615 116* ~35.3 5 36 ~93

In 226 ODIs, Raina amassed 5,615 runs with five centuries and a striking tally of 36 half-centuries. His aggressive yet calculated style earned him a place among the most reliable limited-overs batsmen for India.

T20I Career

Matches Runs HS Average 100s 50s Strike Rate
78 1,604 101 ~29 1 5 ~134

Raina featured in 78 T20Is, scoring 1,604 runs, including a memorable century (101) against South Africa in the 2010 T20 World Cup—making him the first Indian to record a T20I century.

Combined International Career Stats

Format Matches Innings Runs HS Bat Avg SR 100s 50s Wickets Bowl Avg
Tests 18 31 768 120 26.48 – 1 7 13 46.38
ODIs 226 194 5,615 116* 35.31 93.50 5 36 36 50.30
T20Is 78 66 1,604 101 29.16 134.79 1 5 13 34.00
Total 322 291 7,987 120 32.5 ~104 7 48 62 ~44.9

IPL & T20 Leagues Career Highlights Recap

  • 205 IPL matches, 5,528 runs, 1 century, 39 fifties, average ~32.5, strike rate ~136.

  • First to reach 5,000 IPL runs, 100 sixes, and 107 IPL catches.

  • 2010 CLT20: Player of the Series, top scorer (234 runs), champion with CSK.

  • 2023 Legends League: Captain of Urbanrisers Hyderabad, runner-up in debut season.

Records & Achievements

  • First Indian to score centuries in Test, ODI, and T20I.

  • First Indian with a berth in both International T20 and CLT20 centuries.

  • Accumulated 6,000+ and 8,000+ runs in all T20 cricket (global tally).

  • Highest run-scorer (842) and most fifties (6) in CLT20 history.

  • Holds the record for most IPL catches (107) and among top six-hitting modern players.

  • Awarded CEAT T20 International Player of the Year (2011) and named 12th man in ICC T20 World Cup Team of the Tournament (2012).

Suresh Raina’s legacy is defined by his versatility, impact, and consistency in Indian cricket’s white-ball era. He combined flair with timing, aggressive batting with dependable fielding, and stood as a symbol of loyalty—especially with CSK. His philanthropic vision extends beyond the field, with ongoing initiatives to empower women and children through the Gracia Raina Foundation. Though his Test career was less pronounced, his contributions to limited-overs cricket are etched in record books and hearts alike.