Rachin Ravindra reveals how Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane shaped his Test preparation during IPL stint
Rachin Ravindra returns home from IPL early. He feels ready for New Zealand's Test matches in Ireland and England. Ravindra gained valuable insights from top players like Ajinkya Rahane and Virat Kohli.
He believes these conversations and training sessions have prepared him for challenging conditions. The experience has boosted his confidence for the upcoming red-ball assignments.
Rachin Ravindra may not have spent much time in the middle during IPL 2026, but the New Zealand all-rounder believes the experience, along with conversations with some of the game’s modern greats, has left him well prepared for a demanding stretch of Test cricket. As New Zealand gear up for their historic first men’s Test against Ireland later this month, followed by a three-match series in England, Ravindra says he feels mentally refreshed after an early return home from his stint with the Kolkata Knight Riders, where opportunities were limited. He left the KKR camp before the end of the season, a decision he says was handled smoothly and with full support from the franchise.
"I mean KKR were very welcoming and understanding of the situation. Obviously, the way it was going, I wasn't playing. The decision was spoken to the CEO and the coach about potentially coming home for a refresh and obviously not knowing I'd be home until...
Well, I wouldn't be home until late August because of what's to come,” Ravindra was quoted as saying by ESPNcricinfo. "So, really awesome from them to be able to say, go home, refresh, do a bit of training and what you need before joining the boys in Ireland. Because there was always going to be a little bit of an overlap.