Champions Trophy: Rachin Ravindra Reflects on Support Following Century After Injury Comeback
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Synopsis
New Zealand's Rachin Ravindra praises the support he received following a bizarre injury before the ICC Champions Trophy. He made a remarkable comeback, scoring a century and etching his name in cricket history.
Key Takeaways
- Rachin Ravindra highlights the importance of fan and management support.
- He scored a century on debut in both the ICC World Cup and Champions Trophy.
- Ravindra reached 1000 ODI runs in his 26th innings.
- New Zealand secured a semifinal spot with a win against Bangladesh.
- Michael Bracewell's bowling significantly contributed to the team's success.
Rawalpindi, Feb 25 (IANs) Young New Zealand batter Rachin Ravindra expressed gratitude for the love and support he received from fans and the team management during his remarkable comeback after a bizarre on-field accident he described as a 'strange incident' ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy.
Earlier this month, during the ODI tri-series, Ravindra had to leave the field after being hit on the forehead by a ball while attempting a catch in the 38th over against Pakistan. He managed to recover from a serious laceration and navigate return-to-play protocols, demonstrating no signs of being affected by his challenging preparation for the tournament.
The 25-year-old cricketer made a stunning return against Bangladesh, marking his name in the records. He became the first player ever to score a century on debut in both the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup and the Champions Trophy. Additionally, he reached 1000 runs in ODI cricket during his 26th innings, making him the fifth fastest player from New Zealand to achieve this milestone.
Ravindra's impressive century of 112 runs off 105 balls on his Champions Trophy debut secured New Zealand's spot in the semifinals of the prestigious ICC event with a convincing five-wicket victory over Bangladesh on Monday evening.
“It was fantastic to return and truly enjoy my cricket again after that strange incident,” he told reporters following New Zealand’s triumph. “I owe a lot to the coaches, the doctor, and the physio for helping me recover well.”
“I’ve received an abundance of care and support, which makes me incredibly happy to know how many people care about me. I’m extremely thankful for everyone who has reached out to offer their assistance,” he added.
While Ravindra excelled with the bat, New Zealand also benefited from the stellar performance of right-arm spinner Michael Bracewell, who achieved figures of 4-26 from his 10 overs.
“‘Beastie’ (Bracewell) bowled exceptionally well. Watching his development as a cricketer in recent years has been remarkable. He’s mastering his craft, and seeing his consistency is impressive,” said Ravindra.
“This adds significant depth to our spin attack, led by ‘Sant’ (Mitchell Santner), who is a world-class bowler, and having someone like ‘Mike’ (Bracewell) to back him up is fantastic,” Ravindra concluded.
