Rachin Ravindra
Rachin Ravindra, a New Zealand all-rounder, has been a breakout star for his team in the Cricket World Cup 2023, and he made another impact with a century against Australia in Dharamshala, albeit in a losing cause.
Rachin Ravindra’s explosive century and James Neesham’s death overhit were in vain as New Zealand fell short of Australia’s 389-run target, falling by five runs in a nail-biter on Saturday. Ravindra hit 116 off 89 balls. His knock had nine fours and five sixes, and he struck at a strike rate of more than 130.
His century, the young all-rounder’s second in his inaugural World Cup, came in just 77 balls, making it the fastest century by a Kiwi in tournament history. Ravindra smashed his personal tournament record of 82 balls against England in the tournament opener.
Devon Conway also had an 83-ball century in that game, which is the third-fastest century by a Kiwi batter in the World Cup, trailing only Martin Guptill’s 88-ball ton against Bangladesh in the 2015 edition.
Ravindra joins Glenn Turner (1975), Martin Guptill (2015), and Kane Williamson (2019) as Kiwi greats who have struck two World Cup tons.
He is the only player, other than Indian icon Sachin Tendulkar (22 years and 313 days), to have won two World Cups before turning 26.
Rachin has scored 406 runs at an average of 81.20 with a strike rate of more than 107 in this competition. He has two tons and two fifties, with the highest score being 123*. He is currently the tournament’s third-highest run scorer.
