Cricket World Cup: File image of Indian cricket team coach Rahul Dravid and Rachin Ravindra.©Twitter/AFP
Rachin Ravindra took the opening day of the 2023 ODI Cricket World Cup by storm as the New Zealand youngster scored his maiden century against defending champions England. The ton guided his team to a sensational victory in Ahmedabad on Thursday. The 23-year-old was sent to bat at number 3 in the absence of Kane Williamson and went on to score an unbeaten 123 from just 93 deliveries. The partnership with Devon Conway meant England had no chance of a comeback in the match and New Zealand started their Cricket World Cup campaign on a thumping note. Although Ravindra’s parents are both from India, his name actually comes from two batting legends of the Indian cricket team: Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid.
Rahul Dravid’s sense of humor is often an understated aspect of his personality, and this was evident when he indulged in some light-hearted banter about how New Zealand’s new batting hero Rachin Ravindra is a heavy influence on Sachin Tendulkar and less at him. Ravindra, who is of Indian descent, scored a scintillating hundred in the opening match of the Cricket World Cup against England.
His Bengaluru-born parents named him Rachin, taking Rahul’s ‘Ra’ and Sachin’s ‘chin’.
Did you know about that? “When I saw him hit yesterday, he hit five sixes… Maybe it was more ‘chin’. I’m not sure, I hit the ball completely off the square. I couldn’t hit the ball off the square at all. Maybe the Sachin in it definitely helped him,” Dravid showed that he was able to laugh at himself and make others laugh in the process.
The Indian head coach watched his innings and was extremely impressed.
“Yes, bits and pieces of it. I thought they both played really well. New Zealand obviously got off to a flying start in the tournament and it seemed like the wicket became a really good one as the match went on. And yes, both batted very Good.” Rachin had entered as a tail-ender in a Test match in Kanpur in 2021 and batted for almost an hour and a half to draw the match on a slow turner.
“Yes, I think he played a Test match against us in Kanpur and I remember him because he saved the Test match,” Dravid said with admiration in his tone.
The Rahul Dravid-led Indian cricket team will play its first Cricket World Cup 2023 match against Australia on Sunday.
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