Suresh Raina
A dynamic left-handed batsman whose electric fielding and clutch hitting were instrumental in India's era of white-ball dominance.
Born 1986 (age 40)·Indian cricketer·Birthday: November 27·Millennials
Biography
Suresh Raina burst onto the cricket scene as a pocket-sized powerhouse, his game defined by fearless aggression and a radiant energy that infected his teams. Hailing from Uttar Pradesh, he became a linchpin for the Chennai Super Kings in the IPL, his loyalty and big-match temperament making him a franchise legend. In Indian blue, he was a pioneer of the modern limited-overs game. Raina was the first Indian to score a T20I century, a feat he achieved at the 2010 World Cup, and he later became the first from his country to notch centuries in all three international formats. More than statistics, it was his ability to change games—with a rapid-fire innings, a stunning catch at point, or his handy off-spin—that made him indispensable. His contributions in the middle order were crucial to India's triumphs in the 2011 World Cup and the 2013 Champions Trophy, cementing his place as a beloved figure in a golden generation.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Suresh was born in 1986, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Suresh Was Born
The biggest hits of 1986
#1 Movie
Top Gun
Best Picture
Platoon
#1 TV Show
The Cosby Show
Suresh's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1986Born
Challenger disaster; Chernobyl nuclear meltdown
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $66,600Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"That's What Friends Are For" — Dionne & FriendsBest Picture: Platoon
1991Started school
Soviet Union dissolves; World Wide Web goes public
Gas: $1.14/galHome: $82,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" — Bryan AdamsBest Picture: The Silence of the Lambs
1999Became a teenager
Columbine shooting; Y2K panic builds
Gas: $1.17/galHome: $113,900Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Believe" — CherBest Picture: American Beauty
2002Could drive
Euro currency enters circulation
Gas: $1.36/galHome: $137,800Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"How You Remind Me" — NickelbackBest Picture: Chicago
2004Could vote
Indian Ocean tsunami kills over 230,000
Gas: $1.88/galHome: $157,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Yeah!" — UsherBest Picture: Million Dollar Baby
2007Turned 21
iPhone released; Great Recession begins
Gas: $2.80/galHome: $172,600Min wage: $5.85/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Irreplaceable" — BeyonceBest Picture: No Country for Old Men
2016Turned 30
Donald Trump elected president; Brexit vote
Gas: $2.14/galHome: $181,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Love Yourself" — Justin BieberBest Picture: Moonlight
2026Turned 40
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Was a key member of the Indian teams that won the 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup and the 2013 ICC Champions Trophy.
- Became the first Indian batsman to score centuries in all three formats of international cricket (Test, ODI, T20I).
- Scored the first-ever century by an Indian in a T20 World Cup, making 101 against South Africa in 2010.
- Is one of the most successful players in IPL history, winning multiple titles with the Chennai Super Kings and scoring over 5,000 runs.
Did You Know?
He is known by the nickname 'Mr. IPL' for his long and successful association with the Chennai Super Kings.
He announced his international retirement on the same day as his friend and captain, MS Dhoni: August 15, 2020.
He served as a lieutenant in the Indian Air Force's Territorial Army.
He was the first Indian player to score a half-century and take a wicket in a T20 World Cup match.
“I play my cricket with a smile and attack every ball.”
