Rachin Ravindra has a strong affinity for batting in Indian conditions, and with another ICC event approaching, the New Zealand batter appears to be hitting his stride.
Ravindra, a left-handed batter, made
his mark on the international stage with three centuries during the 2023 ODI World Cup in India. Subsequently, he secured a contract with the Chennai Super Kings, gaining valuable experience in various conditions across the country.
In the second T20 on Friday night, Ravindra showcased his talent with a brisk 44 off 26 balls before falling to a loose delivery from Kuldeep Yadav. His innings featured elegant drives and two sixes each off Harshit Rana and Varun Chakravarthy, highlighting his blend of power and precision.
Heading into the India series and the T20 World Cup, Ravindra had not accumulated significant runs, so he was pleased to get a productive outing. “It’s nice to play in India and be familiar with the conditions. It’s good to keep the scoreboard ticking. It’s been a busy period ahead, so I focused on training at home, preparing for these wickets, and refining my bat swing,” said Ravindra about his World Cup preparations.
Despite setting a target of 209, India chased it down with ease, securing a 2-0 lead in the five-match series. New Zealand was on track for a total exceeding 220, but India fought back during the middle overs through Kuldeep Yadav’s efforts. Ravindra credited Ishan Kishan and Suryakumar Yadav for their excellent chase.
“The way India batted, it seems like 250 would have been a better target. We lost a few wickets in clusters, which stalled our progress, but Santner’s finish got us to a score we thought was par. With the dew factor, we might have needed an additional 15-20 runs. That’s cricket in this country, and batting teams can quickly gain momentum,” he explained.
The dew did indeed play a role, making it challenging for the bowlers to grip the ball. “When we batted first, it was slightly wet and got progressively wetter, making it hard for the bowlers. Still, credit to India for their batting performance,” added Ravindra.
Despite trailing in the series, Ravindra remains optimistic about New Zealand’s chances. “It’s disappointing to be 2-0 down, but we have a lot of heart in the changing room. We’ve learned a lot from the first two games and aim to deliver a more complete performance in the final three. A total of 208 is good, but in these conditions, the ball flies quickly, and India has a powerful batting line-up,” he concluded.
With PTI Inputs
