Rachin Ravindra has etched his name into cricket history as the first New Zealand batter to achieve the remarkable feat of hitting three centuries in a single edition of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup. This milestone was reached during the league stage match against Pakistan at M Chinnaswamy Stadium on Saturday.
At the age of 23, Ravindra accomplished this incredible record by taking a single off Pakistan’s fast-bowler Mohammad Wasim Jr. in the 34th over, marking his third century of this World Cup. Prior to this, he had already registered centuries against England (on his World Cup debut) and Australia. He went on to score 108 runs off 94 balls, featuring 15 fours and a six, at a strike rate of 114.89.
Rachin Ravindra has surpassed the previous New Zealand record, held by Kane Williamson (2019), Martin Guptill (2015), and Glenn Turner (1975), all of whom had achieved two centuries in a single edition of the World Cup. His feat as the first batter to score three centuries in their debut edition of a World Cup marks a historic moment in the tournament’s 48-year history.
During his exceptional performance, Ravindra, who made his international debut in 2021, also crossed the 500-run mark in this World Cup. He joins the elite company of only two other New Zealand batters, Martin Guptill and Kane Williamson, who have scored 500 runs in a single edition of the World Cup.
Rachin Ravindra has a deep connection to Bengaluru, as it is the city where his parents hail from. He has previously played cricket in India whenever his father, Ravi Krishnamurthy, took his cricket club team to compete in matches. Fittingly, Ravindra achieved his third Men’s ODI World Cup century in Bengaluru.
In a remarkable twist, he was watching the thrilling 2019 Men’s ODI World Cup final between England and New Zealand in a Bengaluru Stock Exchange bar, completing a full circle of his cricket journey.
