Suresh Raina, popularly called by nicknames like “Sanu” and “Sonu,” is one of the most revered cricketers that India has ever produced. He was born in Muradnagar, Uttar Pradesh, on November 27, 1986. With his humble beginnings far behind him, Raina burst onto the arena as a limited-overs cricketer and quickly became a legend in the IPL.
Early Life and Cricketing Journey
Raina grew up in the Kashmiri Pandit tradition and stayed in hostels most of the time during his schooling at Government Sports College in Lucknow. As early as his childhood, he nurtured the dream of realizing an identity in cricket. By the age of 15, he was simultaneously selected for the U-19 tour to England after good performances for the Uttar Pradesh under-16 team.
Personal Life
Raina married Priyanka Chaudhary in 2015, and the couple has a daughter named Gracia. Known for his love of adventure sports and travel, he enjoys snorkeling, paragliding, and water sports. His car collection includes a Porsche Boxster and Mini Cooper, and he owns homes in Ghaziabad and Noida.
Domestic and IPL Success
Making his debut in the Ranji Trophy at the age of 16 paved the way for the beginning of domestic cricket. In the IPL, Raina was also a stellar performer representing Chennai Super Kings. He was the first to reach the milestone of 3,000 runs and also the first to score 400-plus runs in nine straight editions. He also played for Gujarat Lions and was instrumental in their top-order.
International Career Highlights
Raina’s international debut came in 2005 in an ODI against Sri Lanka. Though dismissed for a golden duck, he rebounded strongly over the years. He made his Test debut in 2010 and became the first Indian to score centuries in all three formats. Tranquil by nature on the field, Raina relished the opportunity to go up against big time adversaries like Pakistan and was the one whom people turned to in times of need.
He was perhaps even more famously the third man to hit a century in T20 Internationals, after Brendon McCullum and Chris Gayle.
Retirement and Achievements
Raina announced his retirement from all formats of international cricket on September 6, 2022. He played his final ODI in 2018 and his last Test in 2015. Over his career, he set several records, including being the second-youngest to captain India and the player with the most ODIs before a Test debut.
Controversies and Public Image
All the while sporting a largely clean image, Raina has had controversies: from a tweet directed at Pakistan to the brief detention of 2020 for violating COVID-19 rules. He was also named in some match-fixing allegations, none ever proved.
Legacy
With a net worth of $25 million, Raina’s legacy goes beyond stats. He is remembered as a trusty middle-order batter, an excellent fielder, and an integral component of India’s white-ball set-up for more than a decade.
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