Rachin Ravindra has been added to the New Zealand Cricket contract for a year which is his first. From being overlooked for the board’s central retainership earlier, he has been added to the 20-player contract list. Alongside him, it also offered Ravindra’s Wellington teammate Ben Sears, Canterbury’s Will O’Rourke and Otago’s Jacob Duffy as well. Left-arm spinner Ajaz Patel was also included on the list after missing out on a contract during the previous calendar year as well.
However, Rachin Ravindra’s inclusion was not a surprise after he became the star in the ODI World Cup in India, where he scored 578 runs. The 24-year-old then did well in the Test circuit by scoring 240 at Mount Maunganui against South Africa in February – the highest maiden Test century by a New Zealand batter as well. He also joined the country’s T20I squad and his rise was rewarded when he was named the ICC Emerging Player of the Year for 2023 as well, and later became the youngest recipient of the Sir Richard Hadlee Medal at the New Zealand Cricket Awards as well.
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“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,” Rachin Ravindra was quoted as saying in an NZC release. “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. Playing a game you love with your mates for a living is something very special, and I hold it close to my heart.”
Notable absentees in the contract list include Kane Williamson, Lockie Ferguson and Adam Milne. While the former two had earlier excused themselves from a central contract, Milne also made himself unavailable for the coming season as well. Neil Wagner was left out after retiring from international cricket in February as well.
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
