Suresh Raina
Suresh Raina
Suresh Raina; born 27 November 1986) is an Indian professional cricketer. An elegant left-handed middle-order batsman and an occasional off-spin bowler, he is also often said to be one of the best fielders in world cricket. He plays for Uttar Pradesh in all forms of domestic cricket and is the captain of Gujarat Lions in the Indian Premier League. He has also captained the Indian cricket team and is the second-youngest player to captain India. He is one of two...
NationalityIndian
ProfessionAthlete
Date of Birth27 November 1986
CountryIndia
I will never date an actor or a model. My family will never accept her. We are a middle class family, and an actress will never be able to gel with us.
I sing really well, my friends say. I don't like my voice, but I sang on stage during the Sahara awards a few years ago, so I don't mind singing.
I always want to be known as a good Test cricketer. I believe I have the ability to score big runs in the longer format. For that, I know I have to score heavily in whatever opportunities I get.
My father was in the army, and there wasn't too much money. Yet, we learnt to enjoy the small pleasures of life, to look at the positives.
What is important for me is playing cricket and not thinking about how my Test career is shaping up. I am not into future planning and all. I am concerned about my present and not the future.
It's always good to bat at the top, where you get more opportunities, but sometimes crucial 30s and 40s can be very helpful for the team. Ultimately it is a team sport. Personal records don't matter much if your team ends up on the losing side.
My family members are vegetarians, but I like mutton and chicken seekh kebabs.
I had a girlfriend when I was 17-18, and when she was 21, she wanted us to get married. I couldn't do that, because my game was my priority. We had to part ways, and there was no guilt because I had never committed to marriage.
I like to keep most of my bats. I think I have about 250 bats, including my first - which cost Rs 2000 - a gift from my dad in 1998, when I moved to the hostel.
Chennai is a beautiful city; I love the roads here and also know the routes. But one tip for car/bike enthusiasts - your life is most important; so, drive safe!
I dedicate my store to my birthplace. People over there look very good and have got purchasing power, too, and I think since there are no fashion shops in Ghaziabad, they would want to visit my boutique all the more. And I don't play cricket for all 12 months. So when I'm not playing, I can spend my time looking after my business and develop it.
I will go for a simple girl who's completely in tune with me and who gets along with my family.
My aim is to play Test matches. For me, there is a different feel of Test cricket as it tests your character. You come to know about your mental toughness, and most importantly, there is another level of satisfaction as a player.
It's very difficult to fill the shoes of somebody like Rahul Bhai. He has set the bench mark for a generation to come. However, it's our responsibility to carry forward his legacy.