Rachin Ravindra: The Kiwi Cricketer with Indian Roots, Triumphing on the World Stage

Pujit

Nov 17 2023

<div style=' background:#FFFFFF;color:#000000;font-family:Verdana;width:auto;padding:5px;max-height:100%;'><span><p>From not even being in the initial plans for New Zealand's ICC World Cup 2023 squad to becoming one of the breakout stars of the tournament, Rachin Ravindra's story is a plot twist of epic proportions.&nbsp; He got the call for the ODI World Cup in India due to injuries to Kane Williamson and Michael Bracewell, and the expectations were modest—provide decent support with the bat and offer an additional spin option. But Rachin, with just 12 ODIs under his belt, stunned the cricket world with his remarkable stroke-making and spin-bowling skills. In the ODI World Cup 2023, Rachin Ravindra scored a whopping 578 runs, setting a record for the most runs by a batter playing in their first World Cup. This feat catapulted him ahead of legends like Sachin Tendulkar and the highly-rated Pakistani captain Babar Azam.&nbsp;</p><p>Notably, Rachin was among the top run-scorers in the 2023 ODI World Cup and earned the ICC's Player of the Month title for October 2023. His World Cup debut against England at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad was nothing short of spectacular. Facing the defending champions, Rachin scored a century, becoming the fastest New Zealand player to do so in the ODI World Cup, taking just 82 balls. Subsequently, he added two more centuries to his campaign against Australia and Pakistan.&nbsp;</p><p>Despite playing for New Zealand, Rachin proudly embraces his Indian roots and celebrates its rich heritage. "Having the crowd chant my name is something I'll never take for granted. I dreamt of it as a child. Six to 12 months ago, I was not even in the frame, but the stars have aligned,” said Rachin Ravindra after a match-winning performance against Sri Lanka in Bengaluru, where his grandparents reside.&nbsp;</p><p>Born in Wellington on November 18, 1999, Rachin's father, Ravi Krishnamurthy, a Bengaluru native, moved to New Zealand in 1997, bringing cricket as a cherished part of the family. Rachin Ravindra's cricket journey began at the age of five, influenced by his father's passion for the sport. Every year, he traveled to Bengaluru with his father and the club team.&nbsp;<br></p><p>His father, a cricket enthusiast, continued playing at the club level in New Zealand, and Rachin, named after Rahul Dravid and Sachin Tendulkar, started playing cricket at a young age. However, the name connection was purely coincidental. Rachin Ravindra's cricket career took off when he was part of the New Zealand squad for the Under-19 Cricket World Cup in 2016 at the age of 16. He was named one of the rising stars of the 2018 U19 World Cup by the ICC. His Test debut against India in Kanpur in 2021 showcased his resilience, saving the match with a notable 91-ball 18 not out at No. 8.&nbsp;</p><p>While his early career statistics might seem modest, Rachin's stellar performance in the 2023 ODI World Cup positions him as one of New Zealand's promising future stars across formats.&nbsp;<br></p><span></div>

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