Believe, Sachin Tendulkar told him - and he took it to heart, getting the word etched on his arm as a tattoo. In this book, Suresh Raina takes us through the challenges he faced as a young cricketer. He was bullied in school and at cricket camps, but he always punched above his weight, overcoming every adversity life threw at him and never giving up. This is the story of the lessons he learnt and the friendships he built. Peppered with invaluable insights - about the game and about life - that Raina acquired from senior colleagues like M.S. Dhoni, Rahul Dravid, Anil Kumble, Sachin Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly, among others, this book will make you believe in the power of hard work, love, luck, hope and camaraderie. It is a journey through the highs and lows in the cricketing career of a man who saw his world fall apart and yet became one of the most influential white-ball cricketers India has ever seen.
I ordered this book with just one purpose in mind as to read that one chapter on MSD. But as I started reading things got gripping and get me into the life journey of a man who in Indian cricket history will be remembered as the player who revolutionized the level of fielding in Indian cricket. The struggle he went to reach where he is now clearly spoke about his personality.
Few things I expected beforehand I ordered the book is the mention of that incident where he left csk in the middle of IPL last to last year. Just for the sake of clearing all the rumor that come from. Also I wanted to know what's the conversation went like on Aug 15 with MSD. Also the description of the night when MS came to him to click a picture as that was his last test.
Being a fan of cricket, I love picking up autobiographies as reading about someone's journey inspires me a lot. Liked this book, especially the early years pre-cricket. Favourite thing though is the chapter he has written about Rahul Dravid who I truly admire. Overall, a quick read.
Suresh Raina is one of my favourite player as a left handed batsman I too liked his batting style and techniques. The way of approaching on the field and off the field. Learning about his life and thoughts in more deep is very fascinating and makes me learn many positive things. As he always mentions that he is a man of positive approach there is no such thing like negative in his life, this is somewhat at the end of the day is the correct way of approaching towards life. His discipline, his dedication, hard work, struggle ofcourse when I read about his hostel part about ragging and all that stuff is really hard to accept but again his approach so calm and positive that he always choose to take his rage in the field with his bat not by the same way his senior does but his own way the raina way🤟.Overall it's a bang. The contribution of every coaching staffs evey senior players like Rahul sir,Mahi bhai and especially paaji have been extraordinary. Rahul dravid is again the most calm and positive person I have gone through. Indian Cricket is always in the good hand and will be 🇮🇳🏆
Summary: A journey from a small town of Muradnagar in UP to the heights of winning the World Cup for India, Believe is an incredible story of one of India's finest limited overs player, Chinna Thala Suresh Raina, told in his own swashbuckling style and captured beautifully in words by Bharat Sunderasan. By this book we come to know Raina's humble beginnings, how he suffered from bullying in college and how he overcame it, the role Dravid and Dhoni have played in his cricketing life and the role Priyanka (his wife) has played in his personal life and last but not least, the efforts that he had to put in to reach the highest level of Cricket.
What I Liked: 1) Straight to the point: Just like Raina on batting crease, the book doesn't waste too much time on overdescribing things. It gets to the topic directly, doesn't overstay it's welcome and moves on to the next one while giving exact information that was required.
2) Life Lessons: By talking about the bullying that he faced in college, Raina has tried to throw light on an important social issue that is still prevalent at many colleges in India.
3) Fascinating insights: We get some great insights of the dressing room atmosphere when Dravid was incharge. How he managed the team, especially the youngsters and how he supported Raina throughout. It was also nice to know about the time that Raina spent in Australia and England as professional cricketer before being selected for India. Raina is also one of select few that have praised India's now infamous coach Greg Chappell for having the vision that eventually played a role in India dominating the Cricket World.
4) His thoughts on those World Cup innings: There's no doubt that Raina played two crucial innings in India's Quarter Final and Semi Final win against Australia and Pakistan, respectively. I really enjoyed reading his own thoughts on those innings, what was going through his mind, how he kept himself positive during the early stages and what contribution the senior players made towards his innings.
What I didn't like: Left wanting for more: The book does talk about Raina's journey to his selection to the Indian team, his captaincy gig in Zimbabwe and the World Cup win. But we barely get any stories of his comeback in international cricket or his glorious decade of dominance in IPL.
Conclusion: 'Believe' the book is pretty similar to a match winning innings by Suresh Raina. It dazzles you for the whole time, it wins you over and then when it ends, it leaves you with a feeling of wanting more.
It was really a rollercoaster ride with the experiences, lessons and the struggles he had came along his career. We have seen him much more calm, humble and very polite in every innings he had played till this day. The words I used about him as humble, polite and calm came through his experiences he had during his past days in building his career path. I even understand everyone of us came along multiple pathways which we felt that it's happening only for us. But we haven't ever seen much or understood about someone who have came through a path which was more drastic than we had. I enjoyed reading the multiple occasions where he received a great support from #sachin #ms #rahuldravid #dada #gregchappell #viru #yuvi #bhajji and many more legends during his tenure. Even I had taken notes myself to some of their sayings such as - "If you make up your mind to score a hundred today, the chances of getting there is HIGHER than usual" which were the great words of positivity in making your mind though. Also a saying which was very clear to all our situations, which read - "How big the occasion or how big it might seem, if you focus on your ultimate goal you would end up achieving it". I enjoyed reading his great creation and bit more pity while reading the phase where he portrayed his bullies and happy how he had overcome those in that young age. This made him more stronger. . One great saying in this book was already portrayed his selflessness in real life is "being happy for everyone's success"
In Believe: What Life and Cricket Taught Me, Suresh Raina, the gentleman of the cricket field, shares his inspiring journey from a middle-class upbringing to the pinnacle of international cricket. A notable absence of detractors testifies to his sportsmanship and affable personality, both on and off the field.
Raina's path to cricketing success was not without obstacles. The financial constraints of his family and the bullying he faced in a sports hostel all served to mold his character. These aspects of his journey underscore Raina's grit and determination, qualities that have defined him as a cricketer and a person.
One cannot discuss Raina without acknowledging his fielding prowess and the significant contributions he made to Chennai Super Kings (CSK), my personal favorite IPL team. His title, Mr. IPL, aptly signifies his achievements. He delivered crucial performances in the semi-finals and quarter-finals of the World Cup, firmly etching his name in the annals of cricketing history.
Raina's memoir sheds light on the egalitarian spirit within the Indian Cricket team during his tenure. He is one of the few to appreciate Greg Chappel's controversial stint as India's coach, a testament to his tendency to find the silver lining even in challenging situations.
A particularly engrossing chapter of the book is devoted to Rahul Dravid, a cricketer admired by many, including myself. Raina's recounting of Dravid's unwavering commitment to the nation is deeply moving. Dravid's significant yet often overlooked contributions as a captain and his support for younger players are insightfully portrayed.
However, I found myself longing for more details on Raina's illustrious IPL career, where he established himself as a dominant force. His exploits on the IPL field are a significant part of his legacy, and their limited coverage in the book was a slight disappointment.
In conclusion, Believe: What Life and Cricket Taught Me is a compelling read that offers readers an intimate look into Suresh Raina's life and career. It serves as a reminder for us all to believe in ourselves and our dreams, regardless of the obstacles we face. This is not just a book for cricket enthusiasts, but for anyone seeking inspiration to persevere and succeed in their chosen path.
I used to admire him and my respect towards him has even more increased after reading this book. Actually, I am feeling elated to be a fan!
This book let us know more about his early life and how he made his way to Indian cricket team through sincere dedication, and becoming a great player. He learnt from all the hardships thrown on him and never lose the 'cheeky expression' on his face(has a adorable smile).
"It was all a learning process. You learn to value money when you don't have much of it, which prepares you to value it even more when you have it." He never looked at the circumstances as shortcomings but take them as opportunities to grow better.
"...The one thing that has never changed in me:being happy for everyone's success." In the book, he has praised all his fellow cricketers, seniors and coaches and has showed a sense of gratefulness towards them for being with him at his hard times and when he was a newcomer. It reflects the decency and genuineness of his character.
His concern and respect towards his wife and parents shows how sensible and considerate person he is.
He has made his name in Cricket through continuous hard work and allegiance. He believe he could , so he did...
PS: The chapter 'Overcoming the Bullies' literally filled my eyes and made me to think about the Menace of Ragging in sports and educational institutions.
“Suresh Raina and M.S. Dhoni are my favourite cricketers. During the world cup 2011 an inverter was specially bought in my home to watch the world cup matches. At that time my age was 4 years old and I became Dhoni fan. Dhoni’s movie I watched more than 100 times. It is my favourite. When my elder brother said that Raina’s book is coming I was so excited to read the book. I love Dhoni-Raina pair in IPL and CSK is my favourite team. I read this book in just four days. This book is very inspirational. I enjoy reading funny moments most. I am now familiar with inside dressing room moments. I am now more familiar with cricket. I also note down many thoughts from the book.”
When I asked my younger brother to write about your experience with the book, he’d simply deny my first three or four requests. I constantly pestered him until he agrees to write. And he had written what you had just read. I didn’t edit it, though.
Had I been more emotional and sentimental, I would have shed tears after reading that. I just smiled and thought it’s the most honest and beautiful thing I’ve ever read.
On a regular and continuous chase for lavish words, and pouring more words into our vocabulary, we somehow discard the simplicity that comes with true and pure emotions.
As this piece is laid by one simple and beautiful paragraph, this book is also full of life, simplicity, humanity, passion, dreams and brotherhood.
"प्राथमिक कक्षा निबंधमाला" (Primary school essay-book) I liked and respect Suresh Raina for his contribution to Indian cricket (in ODIs). He was a good middle/lower-middle order batsman which is not an easy position to bat on. And while not as good as Dhoni, he played for the team on his own merit - Remember he was dropped for the group matches of ODI World cup 2011 in favour of Yusuf Pathan. But I am v.surprised that even after teaming up with Bharat Sundaresan, this book is a bore and disastrously bad. I am surprised at how it got published by Penguin. There were no interesting anecdotes or insights - onfield or off-field. I must have read almost every biography and autobiography of Indian cricketers. It is amazing how after almost 50 years, Sunny Days : Sunil Gavaskar's Own Story remains the best autobiography by an Indian cricketer. To an extent, Yuvi and Manjrekar wrote decent ones. All the other autobiographies were disappointing !
A great book for Cricket aficionados. This book shares the life journey of Team India batsman - Suresh Raina. What stands apart in his story is I feel the hostel stories and how he got bullied by his seniors in the hostel. But through it all, he didn't lose hope, rather focussed all his anger and energy on improving his cricket. An ordinary boy with an extraordinary story. It's a story of what he believed in and eventually what he achieved. What his family and his kids mean to him and above all it's a tribute to all those who were important in his career - MS Dhoni, Sachin Tendulkar, Greg Chappell, Rahul Dravid, and many more. One of my favorite lines from the book is - "Leaving (cricket ) when people say 'why' -- and not 'why not' is indeed the best way to do it".
This is the only word that comes to mind when I reflect on this very short and slim book.
I wonder what prompted Suresh Raina to bring this book out so soon? Guess only he can answer it, but the one thing he did right as chose a great writing partner, Bharat Sundaresan. I feel Dhoni surely had a hand in recommending him. Bharat is one of my favourite writers. He manages to really bring out the simplicity and sincerity in Suresh's story.
This is not a book about Suresh Raina the cricketer, but about the people, his support systems and his struggles. This book is in a way a reflection of his cricketing journey. Quick, Impactful and Sincere.
I've been a huge fan of Suresh Raina right from my childhood days and hence without a doubt, I was happy & excited like a kid to read it. I got to know a lot of things in detail which I'd only heard in interviews previously, especially about how he was bullied as a kid and the variety of learning experiences he received in his journey of becoming an international cricketer. I loved how he has constantly emphasized on the importance of positivity and gratitude. The world knows how good of a cricketer he is but you will understand his true personality and his core beliefs and values only after reading this. The book definitely inspired me and I'm sure it will inspire you too.
Suresh Raina was undoubtedly one of the most underrated players to have represented India. The aggressive left-handed batsman, played majority of his innings down the order but gave India enough victories with his swashbuckling cameos.
Raina hailed from a small town in UP but had the dreams and the will to make it big in Cricket. His family came from a humble background but supported Raina all throughout his pursuit in excelling at the highest level.
Do read this book if you are a cricket aficionado. Raina shares his experiences of having played with the likes of Tendulkar, Dravid and also what it was to be coached by Guru-Greg! 📚
In this book Suresh Raina speaks about his exciting journey right from his school days. He also tells about the hardships he faced in the sports hostel and also the ragging by the seniors.
As a cricket fan this book helps me to know briefly about the Indian cricket, its selection process, senior-junior relationship in dressing room.
Suresh Raina even speak about the controversial coach Grey Chappel, how he helps the youngsters to get the confidence and play fearlessly. This book helps to know about the captaincy of Rahul Dravid and how he mentored youngsters and made them. Raina's friendship with MSD is touching.
Very well written. Covers a lot of unknown aspects of his cricketing journey. Nothing controversial in the book. Mostly covers his mind-set and thinking during various phases of his career. Perfectly written and reinforces Suresh Raina's personality in our mind as we know him over the years. Key takeaways from the book are his humility, positive & never-say-die attitude, tough mindset, genuine care & love for his family, gratitude towards his supporters, holistic growth approach, team spirit, selflessness and ability to see and grow in life beyond just cricket.
A very good read on Suresh Raina's life experiences, from being a child hailing from UP to having a successful international cricketing career. He pens his struggles associated to his upbringing and the challenges he faced at the sports college he attended, and how he overcame all the odds simply by focusing on his talent and passion for cricket. He also sheds light on his rapport with revered Indian cricket players. Lastly a good insight on emotions, relationships, and ups & downs encountered during his cricketing career at several important junctures, such as the IPL era and World Cup 2011.
One of the most honest biographies you can come across. Was not really a fan of Raina in his playing days but I always respected him for whatever he did especially in the limited overs games. This book is an engrossing stuff covering the cricketing journey of Raina with all the highs and lows. To be honest, my respect and admiration for Raina grew by leaps and bounds after reading this book. Well done, Bharat Sundaresan.
Easy 1 sitting type read, but unfortunately the book also lacks the depth required to be particularly memorable. A few of the stories told are interesting but most of the book was pretty shallow motivational points or just facts listed out over the course their life. Does not have the emotional depth to be able to connect properly or the writing skills to express those emotions in any sort of eloquent way. Probably still an interesting read for a cricket fan but eh could’ve been a blog
Believe is an auto-biography by one of my favourite Indian players. It wasn't what I expected and I was quite surprised by his experiences as a child; the bullying in his hostel was horrible, no child should be allowed to be treated that way. There were quite a few instances that brought tears to my eyes and I loved the references to MSD and CSK.
Loved this book... One of my fav Cricketer because of that maybe I like it more. Got to know more and more about Muradnagar Sonu and his early lives... Lots of hope and positivity. Some unknown info about Chappell. The way about Chappell's dominance in Indian Team will change after reading this book. An interesting factor about Rahul Dravid... Loved each and every line, the Gentleman.
Everyone was more or less aware of the fact that Suresh Raina had been through a lot of hardships throughout his life. But, the extent of these hardships wasn't known to many. Right from his struggles in his hostel days to handling the criticism at the professional level. This man has seen it all. You have my respect Sir!
This book is not just about cricket, but it also delves deep into the mindset of a player who has faced and overcome numerous challenges both on and off the field. Raina's passion for the game and his resilience are evident throughout the book, and his positive outlook towards life is infectious. The book is an easy read and gives insight into Raina's journey from a small town to the big leagues.
Another story of someone with humble beginnings who made it big
Down to earth and an underrated cricketer. Raina was a team man and a thorough professional who rose from modest beginnings to becoming a world Cup winner
It's a privilege to have a signed copy of Mr. Suresh Raina as a winner in contest. Lovely book. Good depiction of life. Whole life comes in front of eyes. End of book is little emotional as well written. Nice book to read.
The initial parts were poorly structured and I could not find a narrative flow. But later on it felt more sorted. The content itself was diverse and there were new points that were revealed. The overall narrative felt honest and I enjoyed reading this.
"I believe..." perhaps the best ending to a book on a legend in his field. A name etched in Gold in Indian Cricket scene. Needless to say, a man of might with his bat and a hero in the field with balls. Great read!
Gem of a book for cricket lovers, and It's a great story of personal transformation and self-belief. Unlike many, Raina was quick like his innings on the field. I've a great time while reading, Raina taught me humility, respect, and passion for the game of life!
Personally, I feel the book is average. I cannot keep myself glued on all the chapters. Few chapters are inspiring. Newbie writer is very well seen in the book. Overall an ok read.