Radio New Zealand
Wellington, March 24, 2024
If Rachin Ravindra had not been on the international Cricket world radar earlier, the Black Caps star certainly is now.
After a remarkable 2023 World Cup in India and a season with the national squad, Ravindra is preparing to join the Chennai Super Kings for his Indian Premier League debut.
He was scooped up by the five-time IPL winners and defending IPL champion alongside fellow Black Cap Daryl Mitchell at the player auction in December.
Editor’s Note: Chennai Super Kings (CSK) is a professional Cricket franchise based in Chennai, Tamil Nadu. The team competes in the Indian Premier League (IPL). Founded in 2008, CSK plays its home matches at the M A Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. The Team is owned by India Cements through its Holding Company, Chennai Super Kings Cricket Limited. The Team has won a record five IPL titles (shared with Mumbai Indians), appeared in a record ten finals and has qualified for the playoff stages 12 times out of the 14 seasons that it has played, more than the other teams. CSK is currently captained by Ruturaj Gaikwad after MS Dhoni stepped down. Former Black Caps Captain Stephen Fleming is the current Coach. In 2022, CSK became the first unicorn sports enterprise and was billed as the Second Most Valuable IPL Franchise with a valuation of about US$ 1.15 billion (2022), close to the Mumbai Indians valued at US$ 1.3 billion.
Ravindra: Stellar performances
Ravindra and Mitchell join national teammates Devon Conway and Mitchell Santner at the Chennai-based team for the season.
“I am excited to sink my teeth in and experience the IPL and be with players such as former Indian Captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni, all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja and a coaching team accounting for Stephen Fleming and Mike Hussey.
In October, the 24-year-old from Wellington made an unforgettable World Cup debut with three centuries, accumulating 578 runs and setting a World Cup record.
He surpassed the previous record held by Indian Cricket icon Sachin Tendulkar for the most runs scored by a batter aged 25 or under at a World Cup.
“The World Cup was a very special experience and I am very grateful,” Ravindra said.
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He continued to perform well in all three formats for New Zealand after the World Cup, including a double Test century against South Africa in Mount Maunganui.
Ravindra’s stellar performances in 2023 also earned him many accolades, including the ICC Men’s Emerging Cricketer of the Year award, in addition to becoming the youngest player to receive the Sir Richard Hadlee award.
“It is great to be recognised by New Zealand Cricket and especially by the legend Sir Richard Hadlee. It is special and I feel truly honoured to receive the Award,” he said.
Awards are not new to Ravindra. He was identified early as a player of distinctive promise, winning the Gillette Cup award for young cricketer of the year in 2016.
(Getty Images of the batsman after his century against Pakistan)
From the Hutt to the Black Caps
Ravindra started playing cricket when he was six years old and found encouragement in his parents, especially his father, who accompanied him to practice sessions every day.
“All that training helped to build my foundational game,” Ravindra said.
He took Cricket seriously at the Hutt International Boys’ School, starting to play in the first 11 in Year 9 and ending up playing Club Cricket in Years 12 and 13.
Ravindra recalls that school was a priority for him.
“I think it is important to have that balance. You cannot just be a Cricketer these days; there is more to life than that,” he said.
Ravindra found his way to the Under-19 national team and was included in the ODI World Cup squads for 2016 and 2018. He scored his maiden first-class century at the 2020 Plunket Shield and was included in the New Zealand A side.
In 2021, he made it to the Black Caps Test squad but did not get the chance to play until the T20 series against Bangladesh.
His test debut was against India later the same year, followed by his international debut against Sri Lanka in March last year.
Kiwi-Indians in Cricket
Ravindra’s emergence in the Black Caps lineup continues an impressive legacy of Indian descent players leaving their mark on New Zealand Cricket.
“It is a dream come true moment being able to share a locker room with Kane, Bolt and Southee. I have watched them on TV for many years and tried to be like them in the backyard,” Ravindra said.
He is proud of his heritage but asserted that he is a New Zealander.
His parents moved to New Zealand in the 1990s.
(Instagram Photo).
Ravi Krishnamoorthy, Ravindra’s father, hails from Bengaluru (Bangalore), which is also the hometown of resolute Indian Cricket star Rahul Dravid.
With his father being a former Club player and Cricket enthusiast, Rachin is a blend of two Indian Cricket legends – Rahul Dravid and Sachin Tendulkar.
“It is very special that I am named after those two great Indian players, but I think what matters most is to be my own person,” Ravindra said.
He has met Dravid a few times, the last of which was after New Zealand’s semifinal defeat against India at the 2023 Cricket World Cup.
He has not yet met Tendulkar but hopes to do so soon.
Ravindra has many relatives in India and wants to visit them if he can during the IPL.
In 2011, his father started the Hutt Hawkes Cricket Club, which Ravindra joined the same year.
The Club tours India every year to play matches in various cities.
“These tours helped me learn some skills which I used during the World Cup,” he said.
Kane Williamson is Ravindra’s favourite New Zealand Cricketer, while he looks up to Tendulkar as his ultimate Cricket hero.
Comparing all three formats, he says he enjoys One-Day Cricket the most.
Outside of cricket, Ravindra loves meeting friends, watching Basketball and playing PlayStation.
“I aspire to be a better Cricketer and grow as a good person. What is important to me is to be able to live in the moment, work hard and do what I can,” Ravindra said.
The above Report and pictures have been published under a special agreement with www.rnz.co.nz
