India’s Star All-Rounder Suresh Raina Inspires Texas Youth: Paving the Way for Cricket in America

By Rifat Malik and Abdullah Ghauri Taking a break from appearances at the Sixty Strikes Cricket tournament, India’s former acclaimed international cricketer, Suresh Raina joined fellow cricketer Pragyan Ojha for a surprise visit to one of Dallas’ well-known public schools. Franklin D. Roosevelt High School in the Oak Cliff area, named after the 32nd U.S. President, was the perfect venue for them to engage with youth, sharing their global cricketing experiences and all the excitement about the new fast-paced 90-minute format expected to be a huge draw for American audiences. Famous for his aggressive yet elegant batting, Raina became the first Indian cricketer to score a T20I century in 2010. He was part of the winning Indian team during their victorious campaigns in the 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup and the 2013 Champions Trophy. In addition to his achievements in international cricket, Raina left a huge influence in franchise league cricket such as the Indian Premier League (IPL), earning the Nickname "Mr. IPL