Rachin Ravindra creates world record with stunning century in CT 2025 semi-final
Published - 05 Mar 2025, 07:16 PM | Updated - 05 Mar 2025, 11:40 PM
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Rachin Ravindra lit up the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 semifinal between New Zealand and South Africa by smoking a spectacular century at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore on Wednesday (March 5). Rachin Ravindra hammered 108 off 101 balls to shatter multiple records.
The young batting sensation became the first batter to score his first five ODI centuries in ICC tournaments. Ravindra also shattered India’s Shikhar Dhawan’s record to become the fastest player to hit five centuries in ICC ODI events. While Dhawan took 15 innings to achieve the feat, Ravindra needed just 13 to smash five tons in the 50-over mega-events.
Rachin Ravindra creates history with a sensational century in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025
This was Ravindra’s second century in the ongoing ICC Champions Trophy 2025. He had earlier slammed 112 against Bangladesh after missing New Zealand’s tournament opener against Pakistan due to injury.
However, the left-handed batter fell for just six runs in the final group-stage clash against India, but he roared back in style when it mattered most in the semifinal. With his latest ton against South Africa, Ravindra became the first New Zealand batter to score multiple centuries in a single edition of the ICC Champions Trophy.
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He joined an elite list featuring legends like Chris Gayle, Sourav Ganguly, Saeed Anwar, Herschelle Gibbs, Upul Tharanga, Shane Watson, and Dhawan, who have struck more than one century in a single edition of the tournament.
Rachin Ravindra joins the elite club of Champions Trophy and World Cup centurions
At just 25 years and 107 days old, Ravindra is now the second-youngest New Zealand batter to reach five ODI centuries after Kane Williamson, who achieved the milestone at 24 years and 165 days. Meanwhile, Ravindra joined the elite club of Champions Trophy and World Cup centurions.
Ravindra has etched his name alongside some of the game’s finest batters after scoring multiple centuries in both the ICC Champions Trophy and the ODI World Cup. He hammered three centuries in the 2023 ODI World Cup, and now he has already smashed two centuries in the ongoing ICC Champions Trophy 2025.
Resulting in Ravindra became the only fourth player to hit multiple tons in both events. Sourav Ganguly had smashed two centuries in the 2000 Champions Trophy before adding three more in the 2003 ODI World Cup.
Upul Tharanga also has two centuries to his name in the 2006 Champions Trophy and 2011 ODI World Cup. Shikhar Dhawan also joined this exclusive club with two centuries each in the 2013 Champions Trophy and the 2015 World Cup.
Rachin Ravindra equals Sachin Tendulkar’s massive record
Additionally, the young batting sensation also equaled Sachin Tendulkar’s record of five centuries in the 50-over ICC tournaments before turning 30. Praising the red-hot Ravindra, former New Zealand cricketer Ian Smith on commentary during the semifinal clash: “Forget New Zealand, this is a moment for the cricket world. It has been an absolute exhibition from Ravindra.”
Notably, New Zealand posted the highest total on the board, 362/6, in the ongoing ICC Champions Trophy 2025, and if they manage to beat South Africa, they will face India in the title clash on March 9 at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. This will be their second meeting in the tournament
