Ravindra’s story comes full circle when his cricket-mad parents witness him scoring a World Cup century for New Zealand in his birth country of India.
Less than two hours after Rachin Ravindra made his Cricket World Cup debut, New Zealand’s captain thrust him into the spotlight and asked him to take on the tournament’s defending champions at the world’s largest cricket stadium.
The 23-year-old from Wellington came on in England’s 17th over and bowled a ball with left-arm spin.
England batsman Harry Brooke bowled three balls, knocking down Ravindra’s third, fourth and fifth delivery, hitting two fours and a six.
After the final shot, Brook attempted another shot in the air, but it was caught by Ravindra’s hometown teammate Devin Conway.
The youngster took his first wicket in the International Cricket World Cup. He failed to pick up any more wickets and conceded 76 runs in his 10-plus overs.
Rahul + Sachin create Rachin
The all-rounder will have to wait to showcase his skills with the bat and perhaps repay the faith reposed in him by his Indian-born parents, who featured great Indian batsmen Rahul Dravid and Sachin Tendu The card was named after him.
“When my parents decided on the names, they liked Rahul and Sachin. So they called one Ra and the other Chin, and they named me Rachin,” he revealed in a pre-match interview with the World Cup broadcaster.
“Two outstanding players and I’m lucky to be named after them.”
Named after Rahul and Sachin.
When I grow up: pic.twitter.com/QRoq7Nv6mm
— Lucknow Supergiants (@LucknowIPL) October 5, 2023
Best player of the match
After returning to the arena in Ahmedabad, it wasn’t long before Ravindra got another chance.
Ravindra, whose parents are obsessed with cricket, was in the stands watching the cricket match in New Zealand less than 10 minutes into the game.
The tall, basketball-loving cricketer often finds himself batting in the position of New Zealand’s most prolific batsman, Kane Williamson, who is currently recovering from a knee injury Recover from injury.
The curly-haired left-hand batsman was unfazed by the situation and failed to score in the first six balls, striking out to England’s fast bowler Chris Woakes in the fifth over.
Ravindra then hit five sixes and 11 fours en route to an 82-ball 100 – New Zealand’s fastest century in a World Cup.
He remained unbeaten on 123 runs and shared an unbeaten partnership of 273 runs with his good friend Conway, who top-scored with 152 runs.
A @cricketworld cup A debut to remember! Rachin Ravindra’s first hundred in international cricket and New Zealand’s fastest in the World Cup 🏏 #CWC23 pic.twitter.com/h9XKg7aaJk
— Black Hat (@BLACKCAPS) October 5, 2023
‘It’s cool to be of Indian descent, but I’m New Zealander’
Ravindra was adjudged the Man of the Match with 1 wicket and 123 runs and his name was trending on social media long after the match.
“Nineteen-year-old Rachin Ravindra watched the 2019 World Cup final from a bar in Bengaluru. Four years later, he hit an 82-ball century in the 2023 World Cup opener,” cricket writer Ma Matt Roller wrote in a post on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter.
19-year-old Lachin Ravindra watched the 2019 World Cup final at a bar in Bengaluru.Four years later, he hit an 82-ball hundred in the 2023 World Cup opener
— Matt Roller (@mroller98) October 5, 2023
Ravindra later confirmed his South Indian ancestry, saying “it was great to connect with (Indian ancestry) when I was visiting my grandparents in Bangalore (Bangalore)”.
However, when reporters pressed him on who he was and how he saw himself, Ravindra was quick to say: “I’m very proud of where I come from and my ethnicity (but) I totally see myself as a New Zealander.”
Ravindra is no stranger to international cricket, having made his debut in September 2021 and was tagged as one of the future by cricket experts ahead of the World Cup.
But with the eyes of the world on India in the tournament, Ravindra couldn’t have chosen a better opportunity to make his mark, and it was in front of his idol Tendulkar, who was in the stands Pay close attention.
