Rachin Ravindra scripts history with stunning ton against India in Bengaluru Test

New Zealand all-rounder Rachin Ravindra scripted history with his stunning batting in the opening Test of the ongoing three-match Test series against India at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on Friday, October 18.

Batting at No. 4, Rachin Ravindra aggressively batted and notched up his second hundred in his young Test career in the ongoing Bengaluru Test. He showed great resilience, and his shot selection was just perfect, as he single-handedly anchored the innings for New Zealand against India.

Rachin Ravindra becomes the first New Zealand batter in a decade to score a Test century on Indian soil

With this sensational hundred on Indian soil, Rachin Ravindra etched his name into the history books, becoming the first New Zealand batter to achieve the feat in over a decade. His remarkable knock ended a long-standing drought for New Zealand, with the last ton on Indian turf being scored by Ross Taylor back in 2012 at the very same venue in Bengaluru.

Additionally, the 21-year-old also became the 21st New Zealand batter to hit a century in India. The left-handed batter brought up his record century in 124 balls, smashing 11 boundaries and two sixes in the ongoing first Test against New Zealand at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru.

Rachin Ravindra smashed Indian off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin for a sunning boundary on the first ball of the 80th over to reach his second Test hundred. This ton is extra special for the Kiwi batter, as it came in front of his family at a place where his roots are. Rachin stepped in when his team needed him the most, pushing them into a strong position against India.

Kuldeep Yadav dismisses Rachin Ravindra with a floated delivery

However, Indian spinner Kuldeep Yadav has finally managed to dismiss Ravindra. Kuldeep Yadav’s delivery was floated full on off-stump, and Ravindra attempted another slog sweep, but he mistimed it, resulting in a top-edge.

The ball floated up to the right of Dhruv Jurel, who comfortably took the catch to end Ravindra’s superb innings of 134 runs from 157 balls, studded with 13 fours and 4 sixes. His knock helped New Zealand to post 402 runs on the board in the first innings against Team India in the ongoing first Test in Bengaluru.

Ravindra's Test career in brief

Speaking about his red-ball career, Rachin Ravindra made his Test debut in 2021 against India in Kanpur. This classy century marked the New Zealand all-rounder’s second Test century in 19 innings, with his first coming earlier this year against South Africa. His highest Test score so far is 240 runs off 366 balls.

In his 10 Test matches, the Bengaluru-bord lad has so far scored over 750 runs at an impressive average of above 42. He also has three half-centuries to his name. At home, Ravindra has scored 466 runs in five Tests at an average of 46.60. The Bengaluru ton is his first Test hundred in Asia.

Notably, Ravindra's family belongs to Bengaluru, where his father, Ravi Krishnamurthy, once played club cricket before relocating to New Zealand. Mr. Krishnamurthy is now managing the Hutt Hawks club in Wellington, where Rachin's journey shaped into professional cricket.