Suresh Raina

First Indian to hit a century in all three formats, including the T20 World Cup.

Suresh Raina is an Indian former international cricketer known for his aggressive left-handed middle-order batting and occasional right-arm off-spin. A key member of the Chennai Super Kings, he played a vital role in their 2010 IPL title run, scoring a half-century that turned the tide against Mumbai Indians. On 30 May 2014, he scored 87 runs off just 25 balls in a qualifier match, missing the fastest century by 13 runs due to a runout. In 2016, he captained the Gujarat Lions after CSK's suspension, scoring 399 runs in 15 innings before leaving mid-season for his child's birth. He became the first batsman to score 5000 IPL runs on 23 March 2019 against RCB and later played his 200th match in 2021.

Quick Facts

Full name

Suresh Kumar Raina

Born

27 November 1986

Birthplace

Muradnagar, Uttar Pradesh, India

Nickname

Sonu
Chinna Thala
Mr. IPL

Height

5 ft 8 in / 1.73 m

Batting

Left-handed

Bowling

Right-arm off-spin

Role

Batsman

Lore & Background

Raina's IPL journey is defined by consistency and pivotal performances. In 2010, he was named BCCI's 'best fielder' ahead of the finals and delivered a match-winning half-century for CSK. His 2014 season saw him named in both the ESPNcricinfo IPL XI and CLT20 XI after his explosive 87-run knock off 25 balls against Kings XI Punjab. In 2016, he stepped up as captain for Gujarat Lions following CSK's suspension, maintaining a steady average despite missing one match to attend his first child's birth in the Netherlands. By 2019, he etched his name into history as the first player to reach 5000 IPL runs during a match against Royal Challengers Bangalore. Though he suffered a calf injury in 2018 and withdrew from the 2020 season due to family tragedy, his legacy remained intact until he went unsold in the 2022 auction.

Reader's Guide

Suresh Raina served as a versatile middle-order batsman for Chennai Super Kings, capable of anchoring innings or accelerating the run rate. His aggressive left-handed style allowed him to dominate bowlers across all phases of play. Beyond batting, he contributed with right-arm off-spin, taking wickets when needed. Fielding was another pillar of his game; renowned for agility and sharp reflexes, he often patrolled the inner ring, saving runs and executing crucial run-outs. Jonty Rhodes once ranked him number one in his 'top fielders' list. He retired from all cricket forms on 6 September 2022 after going unsold in the 2022 auction, having reached milestones including 5000 IPL runs and 200 matches played.

Did You Know?

Former South African cricketer Jonty Rhodes ranked Suresh Raina as number one in his 'top fielders' list.
Raina withdrew from the 2020 IPL season after his uncle Ashok Kumar was assaulted during a robbery and did not survive.