Even if Rachin Ravindra is still enjoying his incredible World Cup run, the all-rounder from New Zealand has the momentum to turn his red-ball career around against his hosts, Bangladesh—the same team that nearly destroyed it.
The Bangladesh squad, captained by Mominul Haque, defeated the hosts in the Mount Maunganui Test in January of last year by an astounding eight wickets, marking the nation’s first-ever triumph over the Kiwis in any format.
In that match, Ravindra, who was playing in just his third Test match, had a lacklustre performance, scoring 20 runs in two innings and taking no wickets.
As a result, Ravindra was dropped from the starting lineup for the second Test of the series, warmed up on the bench for the next Test series between New Zealand and South Africa, and was eventually cut from the playing team.
After an amazing performance in the ICC World Cup in India, where he amassed 578 runs in 10 innings and struck three hundreds, the 24-year-old earned a comeback into the red-ball squad. This was the most runs a New Zealand player had scored in a single edition of the main tournament.
It seems a little strange. Referring to his sensational World Cup performance, Ravindra remarked on Friday in Sylhet, “Things have happened quite quickly and I am very fortunate to be here right now.”
“I really loved my first experience of Test cricket a couple of years ago, and I’m really excited to see how my game has evolved,” the youngster stated.
One of the five spin-bowling alternatives in New Zealand’s 15-man team for the two Test matches is Ravindra, a part-time left-arm spin bowler.
Despite his lacklustre Test bowling statistics (three wickets in three games), Ravindra has a strategy in place to make the most of his potential as a spinner in Bangladesh.
“I think if you’re putting in the areas and dialling up your pace a little more, hopefully, you will have success.”
After the Mount Maunganui Test, while Ravindra was paving the way back to the Test team, Bangladesh played 11 Test matches, losing the remaining eight, drawing one, and winning one against Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, and Ireland. They finished last in the previous cycle of the ICC Test Championship.
Beginning on November 28, the Sylhet Test will mark the beginning of Bangladesh’s and New Zealand’s campaigns in the 2023–25 cycle of the tournament. Like Ravindra, the Tigers will be hoping for a new beginning in the red-ball format.