Rachin Ravindra Earns Central Contract from New Zealand Cricket

"It's been a really cool past 12 months playing international cricket. I've learned a lot and the hunger is definitely there to keep improving and giving to the Blackcaps. It's such a special group to be in, from players to support staff -- and that's been the most enjoyable part, to be honest": Rachin Ravindra

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Rachin Ravindra, a young all-rounder from India, has secured his maiden central contract as a result of his achievements over the last year, which included a huge run total during the ODI World Cup.

The 24-year-old, who finished as the fourth-highest run scorer with 578 runs in his breakout season, is included in the list of 20 cricketers who were offered contracts on Wednesday for the 2024–25 campaign.

His prominence was heightened by his success in the One-Day Internationals. This year, he made his debut in the lucrative IPL for the Chennai Super Kings, having been acquired for a whopping Rs 1.8 crore during the IPL auction.

After his ascent, the top-order batsman was recognized in January as the 2023 ICC Emerging Player of the Year. He was the youngest recipient of the Sir Richard Hadlee Medal in March.

With his grandparents residing in Bengaluru, Ravindra’s hometown, stated he found great satisfaction in his first central contract.

“Growing up, you’d see those contract lists come out each year and think it would be cool to be on that list one day — and for it to eventuate now is a pinch-myself moment,” he told New Zealand Cricket (NZC).

“It’s been a really cool past 12 months playing international cricket. I’ve learned a lot and the hunger is definitely there to keep improving and giving to the Blackcaps. It’s such a special group to be in, from players to support staff — and that’s been the most enjoyable part, to be honest,” he added.

Besides Ravindra, three more new faces — Ben Sears, Will O’Rourke and Jacob Duffy — figure in the list of 20 players offered contracts by NZC.

“Playing a game you love with your mates for a living is something very special, and I hold it close to my heart,” added Ravindra.

In seven Test matches, Ravindra has amassed 519 runs—including a century—while in 25 ODI matches, he has three tons of runs scored.

Sears participated in 11 Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is) for New Zealand in the 2023–24 season, taking 13 wickets at an average of 22, and was partnered with Ravindra at the 2016 ICC Under-19 World Cup.

In addition, the pacer traveled as a reserve for the New Zealand team that played in the USA and the West Indies for the recently finished T20 World Cup.

While right-arm quick Duffy, 29, has represented New Zealand in 14 T20Is, 6 ODIs, and most recently, the drawn T20I series against Pakistan in April, pacer O’Rourke, who made his debut in all three formats in the last year, has played three ODIs, three T20Is, and two Tests.

Players offered central contracts for 2024-25: Finn Allen, Tom Blundell, Michael Bracewell, Mark Chapman, Devon Conway, Jacob Duffy, Matt Henry, Kyle Jamieson, Tom Latham, Daryl Mitchell, Henry Nicholls, Will O’Rourke, Ajaz Patel, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Mitchell Santner, Ben Sears, Ish Sodhi, Tim Southee, Will Young.

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