Follow UsBreakout star at the 2023 World Cup in India, Rachin Ravindra believes that him being able to play with freedom and be ‘himself’ at the international level despite being inexperienced is a testament to New Zealand’s team environment, and credited his teammates for his success.
Ravindra had only played 12 ODIs prior to the World Cup but, come the mega event, proved to be one of the best batters in the entire competition, racking up close to 600 runs at an average of 64 and strike rate of 106. The 24-year-old smashed three tons and set a new record for the most runs scored by a batter in their first ever World Cup appearance.
Speaking ahead of the two-Test series against Bangladesh, Ravindra described his last two months as ‘surreal’.
"I think it's a testament to the team environment: to be able to come in and play with freedom, and enjoy my time learning from those guys who have been here for so long,” Ravindra told reporters on Friday (November 24th).
“It's been great to rub shoulders with everyone, and hopefully I can keep learning from them.
"Things have happened quite quickly, and I am very fortunate to be here right now. At my age, being able to travel around the world playing cricket, playing a game you love for a living, is pretty special. [It] definitely has its ups and downs, but mostly I love every single moment.”
New Zealand and Ravindra now shift their focus to red-ball cricket, for a two-Test series against Bangladesh starting November 28th, and the 24-year-old said that the tons of white-ball cricket he’s played in the past month will keep him in good stead for the Tests as his intent is bound to be intact.
"I enjoy going back to red-ball cricket after that (ODIs) because that means your intent... you are almost looking to score, so, I mean, [it] keeps you in a good position to score," Rachin said.
"But probably here [in Bangladesh] it depends on the conditions, what the pitch is doing and it's probably going to dial that back a little bit, not as many risks. You can still play your natural game, by understanding the surface and the situation of the game dictates you.”
But the left-hander admitted that his role with the bat could be significantly different, particularly because the games will be played in Bangladesh, and insisted that adapting to the conditions will be key.
"It's a different role for sure; it's not a new ball - I might come in and straightaway face a spinner. So [it's] just [about] wrapping your head around that and seeing what sort of way you can adjust your game plan and get used to facing slower bowling instead of seam up top,” the 24-year-old said.
“But the beauty of it [is that] you contribute whatever way you can for the team no matter what role it is, and hopefully you contribute to a win.”
Having already played a couple of Tests in the subcontinent, back in 2021 against India, Ravindra said that he’s keen to see how his Test game has evolved.
"I think we sometimes don't understand how long a Test match really is - you have five days of 90 overs each day, so there's a lot of time here, so hopefully we can bring that calmness in the group from the one-dayers to the red-ball stuff. I really loved my first experience of Test cricket a couple of years ago, and [I am] really excited to see how my game has evolved," he said.
The first Test of the two-match series will be played in Sylhet from Tuesday, November 28th.