Rachin Ravindra

Rachin Ravindra was never in New Zealand's initial plans for the 2023 ODI World Cup, but was drafted in due to injuries to Kane Williamson and Michael Bracewell. Who would have thought that the marquee ICC tournament would turn out to be a breakout one for the young allrounder.

Rachin broke the record for most runs by a batsman in his debut World Cup. He scored 578 runs in the 2023 World Cup and surpassed Sachin Tendulkar's previous feat. Before the World Cup, he had played only 12 ODIs, but he dazzled the arena with his brilliant batting and orthodox left-hand bowling.

Rachin in his debut World Cup match against England in Ahmedabad, scored a century, fastest by a New Zealand batter in a World Cup, off 82 balls. He slammed two more centuries in the tournament against Australia and Pakistan.

Though born in Wellington (New Zealand), Rachin is aware of his Indian roots in Bengaluru where his grandparents still reside, and his World Cup exploits have brought him close to the capital city of Karnataka, with the Chennai Super Kings handing him an IPL debut in 2024 after acquiring him for Rs 1.8 crore in the auctions.

In his debut match in IPL 2024, Rachin scored 37 off 15 balls against Royal Challengers Bangalore and in the next game scored a 20-ball 46 against Gujarat Titans.

Rachin's father Ravi Krishnamurthy, a software architect moved from Bangalore and settled in New Zealand in 1997. His father, a cricket enthusiast, continued to play cricket at club level in New Zealand. Influenced by his father, Rachin started playing cricket at the age of five and every year travelled with his father's club team to Bengaluru.

Like any other talented youngster, Rachin's cricketing career took wings from the U-19 World Cup in 2016, where he aged 16 was the youngest in the New Zealand side. In 2018, he again played in the U-19 World Cup, and ICC named Rachin as one of the rising stars of the tournament. The same year he made his List A debut against Pakistan A.

Three years after his List A debut, Rachin made his Test debut against India in Kanpur. Not a memorable series, but 18 not out off 91 balls, batting at No.8 helped New Zealand save a Test match. He was picked for the Bangladesh series in 2022, but had poor returns. Rachin, who bowls left-arm spin like his idol Daniel Vettori, made his T20I debut in 2021 against Bangladesh.

For his top-class batting prowess during the ICC World Cup 2023, Rachin was named ICC Emerging Men's Cricketer of the Year. In February 2024, in the first Test against South Africa, Rachin scored his maiden Test hundred and converted it into a double century (240 runs) and picked six wickets in the two Tests, to help New Zealand win their first Test series against South Africa.

A month later, at 24, Rachin became the youngest player to win the Sir Richard Hadlee Medal, highest men's cricket award in New Zealand.