Rachin Ravindra Included in New Zealand’s Central Contract for the First Time

Rachin Ravindra is set to be included in New Zealand Cricket’s central contract for the first time. The 24-year-old all-rounder secured his spot in the central contract by showcasing a remarkable performance in the ODI World Cup. Alongside Ravindra, Ben Sears, Will O’Rourke, and Jacob Duffy have also been offered central contracts for the first time.

Rachin Ravindra made a significant impact in the cricket world during the 2023 ODI World Cup. The young star from New Zealand scored 578 runs in 10 matches, making him the fourth-highest run-scorer of the tournament. Among his 10 innings, three were centuries. Following his stellar performance, he received a call-up from Chennai Super Kings in the IPL. Now, Ravindra has received an even bigger reward with his inclusion in the Kiwis' new central contract.

Rachin Ravindra, who dreamt of being in New Zealand’s central contract from a young age, expressed his joy upon achieving this milestone. He said, "Growing up, I always looked at the central contract list being announced each year and thought that one day I would be there. Now that it’s happening, it’s a pinch-me moment. The past 12 months have been incredible for me in international cricket. I’ve learned a lot and am certainly hungry to keep improving and performing for the Black Caps."

New Zealand’s Central Contract List:

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, and Will Young.

On the other hand, it was already known that New Zealand’s T20 captain Kane Williamson declined to be part of this contract. Additionally, senior players Lockie Ferguson and Adam Milne are not included in the contract. Despite losing his place in the Test team, batsman Henry Nicholls is part of the contract. Kyle Jamieson and Ajaz Patel have also been reinstated in the central contract.