GHAZIABAD, INDIA – November 27, 2025 – Former India all-rounder Suresh Kumar Raina celebrated his 39th birthday on Wednesday, marking nearly two decades since his international debut and a legacy that continues to inspire generations of cricketers across the country.
Born in Muradnagar, Uttar Pradesh, on November 27, 1986, Raina rose from modest beginnings to become the first Indian to score centuries in all three formats — Test, ODI, and T20I — a feat he achieved in 2010 that placed him in an elite global club alongside the likes of Chris Gayle and Brendon McCullum.
His ODI hundred against Hong Kong in 2008, a classy 120 against England at The Oval in 2011 (his maiden Test ton), and a breathtaking 101 off 60 balls against South Africa in the 2010 T20 World Cup remain etched in memory. That T20I century in Gros Islet, St Lucia, made him only the third batter worldwide and the first Indian to reach three figures in the shortest format.
Raina played 226 ODIs (5,615 runs at 35.31, 36 fifties, 5 hundreds), 78 T20Is (1,605 runs at 29.18, 1 hundred, 5 fifties), and 18 Tests (768 runs at 26.48, 1 hundred, 7 fifties). He was part of India’s triumphant 2011 World Cup squad and the 2013 Champions Trophy-winning team under MS Dhoni.
In the Indian Premier League, Raina is synonymous with Chennai Super Kings. Drafted in 2008, he amassed 5,528 runs in 205 matches — the fifth-highest in IPL history — at a strike rate of 136.76, including one century and 39 fifties. Nicknamed “Mr. IPL” for his clutch performances under pressure, he played a pivotal role in CSK’s titles in 2010, 2011, and 2021, and was the first player to reach 5,000 IPL runs.
His partnership with Dhoni is the stuff of folklore: the duo added 4,000-plus runs together, with Raina often finishing games when the captain anchored. The iconic helicopter shot, the diving fielding efforts, and the ability to bowl handy off-spin made him the complete limited-overs package.
Post-retirement in 2022, Raina has stayed connected to the game through commentary, coaching clinics, and the Gracia Raina Foundation, which supports mothers and children with hearing and developmental challenges. He also mentors young talent in Uttar Pradesh and runs cricket academies.
