New Delhi: Suresh Raina is an important cricketer for Team India when it comes to the shorter format of the game. He is an utilty cricketer who not only score runs quickly at the lower order but can also bowl some off-spin as well.
Raina is also known for his athletic approach in the field. Raina's all round ability make him one of the finest all-rounder playing for Team India and a total team man.
As he turns 29 years old, India TV takes a look at some of most interesting facts about the all-rounder from Uttar Pradesh:
Suresh Raina was born on 27 November 1986 to a Kashmiri Pandit family. He is a native of Rainawari, Srinagar, Jammu & Kashmir but now resides in Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh.
* Raina is the vice-captain of Chennai Super Kings(CSK) in Indian Premier League(IPL) and represents for Uttar Pradesh in all forms at domestic level.
* He is also the second highest six hitter next to Chris Gayle of West Indies in IPL. At the age of 18, Raina got his break in ODI for Indian Cricket sqaud in 2005 against Sri Lanka. Though his debut in test team happened in 2010 against the same opponent.
* Raina holds the record of hitting century in all formats of the game. He was also in the playing eleven when Indian team Lifted World Cup of 2011.
* In the very first ODI, Raina was bowled by spin legend Muttiah Murlitharan. In his debut series he was able to score meagre 37 runs with a poor average of 12.33 in three innings, so he got ousted from the team.
* He got selected in squad for 2008 Asia Cup and On 25 June 2008 Raina scored his maiden hundred against Hong Kong in just 66 balls. Suresh Raina got a duck on ODI debut but scored a century on Test debut.
* The south paw went on to become the youngest captain for India in the T20I format at the age of 23.
* Suresh Raina is the only Indian who has scored century in both international T20 and Indian Premier League.He is the first Indian and second in the world to hit 100 sixes in the IPL.
* Suresh Raina tied the nuptial knots with his child hood friend Priyanka Chowdhary in a grand ceremony which was attended by politicians, cricketers, family members and close friends.
* The left hander batsman has also sung a song in Bollywood film Meeruthiya Gangsters.
* Like all other Indian cricketers Raina also has a love for cars. He owns a Porsche Boxter Limited Edition.
