Strong, muscular, tall, macho, suave - we wouldn't blame you if you thought we were describing a man. The image associated with men has always inclined towards the physical aspect of the balance rather than the mental or even emotional one. Words like sensitive, compassionate, empathetic, woke have been used rather modestly when it comes to men. A man has been perceived rather unidimensionally for ages now. 

To reignite the conversation on International Men's Day and actually understand the nuances of mental health from the horse's mouth, we got in touch with men from various walks of life. It's been commendable to see each of these stars letting us inside their darkest moments and how they overcame them, breaking stereotypes, and proving that it's okay for a man to feel weak and vulnerable.

Here's Suresh Raina opening up in a tell-all exclusive interview:

The first Indian batsman to score a hundred in every format of the game, relentless runner between the wickets and an effective bowler when his captain needed him to deliver, Suresh Raina was once an irresistible part of the Indian cricket team.

But after not getting the Team India call for over two years, the southpaw announced his retirement from international cricket on Independence Day, 2020.

On the occasion of International Men’s Day, we got in touch with Raina to understand how did such a transition affect his mental health. What role did his family play in his life during his exceptional career and tapped into the kind of cerebral preparation it takes to deal with the era of digital media wherein everyone with a Twitter account acts like a cricket pundit.

Every time you stood behind the crease, fans expected you to deliver. What does something like that do to an athlete’s mind, especially a male cricketer in a cricket-worshipping country?

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