Lights, Camera, Raina!- Indian Cricketer Suresh Raina Set to Star in Tamil Movie

Former Indian cricketer Suresh Raina has officially joined the elite list of players like Harbhajan Singh and Irfan Pathan, as he prepares to make his acting debut in a Tamil movie.

Raina, one of the most beloved cricketers in South India, especially in Tamil Nadu, where fans affectionately call him ‘Chinna Thala’, will star in an untitled Tamil film. The project is being produced by a new banner, Dream Knight Stories, and is backed by KGF Sportz.

Despite retiring from cricket five years ago, Raina’s popularity in Tamil Nadu has never waned. After the conclusion of IPL 2025, he even hinted at a potential return to his cherished franchise, Chennai Super Kings, this time as a coach for the 2026 season, a move yet to be officially confirmed.

Raina shared the official film announcement on his Instagram, sending fans into celebration mode.

Cricketers in Tamil Cinema: A Growing List

Raina isn’t the first Indian cricketer to step into Tamil cinema. The trend began with Sadagoppan Ramesh, the former India opener, who acted in the 2008 hit Santosh Subramaniam. He went on to appear in two more films before becoming a Tamil cricket commentator for Star Sports.

Indian all-rounder Irfan Pathan was next to try acting, playing a CBI officer in the movie Cobra with actor Vikram. After him, Harbhajan Singh, who is known for his love of the Tamil language during his time with Chennai Super Kings, acted in the film Friendship.

Even foreign players have joined in the trend. Recently, former Australian cricketer and social media star David Warner made a short 5-minute appearance in the Telugu movie Robinhood, which was loved by cricket fans all over India.

MS Dhoni’s Role Behind the Scenes

Notably, MS Dhoni, another fan favorite in Tamil Nadu, runs a production house named Dhoni Productions, which released a Tamil film last year and is currently working on several new projects.

Fans Celebrate Raina’s Big-Screen Entry

Tamil Nadu fans are known to shower love on their cricketing icons, especially when they take part in local cinema. Whether it’s acting or producing, cricketers entering the Tamil film industry are always welcomed with open arms.

With Suresh Raina now stepping into Kollywood, excitement is sky-high. His appearance on the big screen is expected to be celebrated like a festival. The first glimpse and official title of the film are expected to be revealed tomorrow. Stay tuned

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