New Zealand's Rachin Ravindra participated in a practice session prior to the first Test cricket match against India, held at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on Monday. — AFP
New Zealand batsman Rachin Ravindra expressed on Monday that playing against India in Bengaluru, the birthplace of his father, will be a 'special' moment, with his family cheering from the stands. The Black Caps kick off their three-Test series on Wednesday, but the Wellington-born Ravindra, who identifies himself as 'a Kiwi through and through,' stated that facing India will be an emotional experience.
'I am very proud of my Indian heritage,' the 24-year-old told reporters. 'To play where many of my family members reside is truly special.' Ravindra has played nine Tests since his debut in Kanpur in 2021 and has solidified his position in the national team with his dynamic batting style.
The left-handed batter had a stellar ODI World Cup in India last year and then made a mark in his debut Indian Premier League T20 tournament for Chennai Super Kings. He described both experiences as 'pretty cool,' but noted that playing a Test match is 'something different.'
'Test cricket is the ultimate,' he said, adding that it 'makes it even more significant due to the family connection' to play in Bengaluru. 'Dad will be here watching,' he mentioned. 'Those moments, you pinch yourself on the journey.'
Ravindra, known for his adeptness against spin on sub-continent pitches, accumulated 578 runs, including three centuries, in 10 World Cup matches in 2023. In the IPL, he scored 222 runs for five-time champions Chennai, with a strike rate exceeding 160. Having experienced cricket in India, he expressed eagerness for the upcoming challenge.
'We know how passionate the Indian people are about cricket,' he said, appreciating the 'hype and buzz' around the game—and that he was 'excited to play a full three-match series.'
However, New Zealand faces a formidable challenge. India, led by Rohit Sharma, remains the strong favorite after their recent 2-0 sweep of Bangladesh and aims to strengthen their position at the top of the World Test Championship table. The hosts delivered a crushing defeat to Bangladesh in the final Test, where more than two days were lost due to rain.
'We want to be a team that can score 400 runs in a day and bat for two days to draw,' India's head coach Gautam Gambhir stated. 'That's called growth, adaptability—and that's called Test cricket.'
New Zealand is on the final leg of their sub-continent tour, which began with a washout against Afghanistan near New Delhi. The Kiwis then lost 2-0 in Sri Lanka after a tough opening match. But Gambhir cautioned against underestimating New Zealand.
'New Zealand presents a completely different challenge. We know they're a very good team,' he said. 'We know they have some high-quality players who can hurt us.'
