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 am doing everything to be fit - like not eating oily food, doing yoga, gymming and consulting my doc.
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.
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.
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.
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.
As an international batsman, I have to come out to bat under any situation. Sometimes a platform has been laid; on others, we have to build one. That's part of our job, and that's why international cricket is so challenging.
At home in Ghaziabad, everyone is a pure vegetarian. In fact, when I want to cook non-veg there, my mum shoos me out on the terrace where I have my cooking utensils. I'm told categorically that whatever non-veg or egg, etc., that I have to cook, I should do upstairs and not enter her kitchen at all.
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.
At the international level, one has to keep working hard and develop new skills. International cricket is all about improving yourself.
If you're successful, it's important to enjoy it! I love shopping for clothes, branded clothes. I love shopping in England, Dubai. I like to travel whenever I can.
For me, fielding is everything - it is a passion that comes from within. You can get a bad ball while you bat, and your bowling may not always be up there, but you are completely in control of how well you field.
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.
My days in hostel were tough. I was ragged by my seniors. We were asked to wash their dirty clothes, do their odd jobs, etc. When it came to eating, we would be often given burnt rotis and milk that had awful odour. But, never once did I call home. I knew if I had to become a tough cricketer, I would have to handle the pressure.
As professional cricketers, we have to ensure that we are battle-ready all the time.