Rachin Ravindra etched his name into the annals of New Zealand cricket history, achieving a remarkable feat in the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup. In a league stage showdown against Pakistan at the iconic M Chinnaswamy Stadium, the 23-year-old southpaw accomplished a milestone that had eluded his compatriots for decades.
Ravindra, who made a dazzling World Cup debut with a century against England, continued his blazing form with a third century in the tournament. The moment of glory arrived in the 34th over when he calmly nudged a single off the relentless pace of Mohammad Wasim Jr. His 108-run knock off 94 deliveries featured a spectacular 15 boundaries and a mighty six, commanding a striking strike rate of 114.89.
The record books now showcase Ravindra's name as the first New Zealand batter to amass three centuries in a single edition of the World Cup, surpassing cricket luminaries like Kane Williamson (2019), Martin Guptill (2015), and Glenn Turner (1975), who had twice reached this milestone. A historic feat unfolded as Ravindra became the first cricketer to score three centuries in their debut World Cup appearance in the tournament's storied 48-year history.
The young sensation's journey to glory took a personal touch as he soared past the 500-run mark in this World Cup, following in the footsteps of the esteemed Martin Guptill and Kane Williamson. Ravindra's cricketing roots have a special connection to Bengaluru, the city where his parents hail from. It was here that he honed his skills, playing cricket whenever his father, Ravi Krishnamurthy, led his club team to fixtures in the city and other Indian venues.
Fate played its part as well, as Ravindra found himself in a Bengaluru Stock Exchange bar during the electrifying 2019 Men's ODI World Cup final between England and New Zealand. His incredible journey from watching cricket to making history exemplifies the passion and talent that defines his burgeoning career in the sport.
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