IPL 2024: Rachin Ravindra to debut for Chennai Super Kings

Rachin Ravindra IPL debut: From a base price of Rs 50 lakh, the New Zealander finally went for Rs 1.8 crore to Chennai Super Kings, the defending champions. (Image credit: Chennai Super Kings via X/@ChennaiIPL)

New Zealand all-rounder Rachin Ravindra will debut in the 2024 edition of the Indian Premier League in the yellow jersey. The left-handed batter smashed 578 runs in the ODI World Cup in India last year, which made his case stronger at the IPL auctions.

From a base price of Rs 50 lakh, the New Zealander finally went for Rs 1.8 crore to Chennai Super Kings, the defending champions.

It will be a homecoming for the Indian-origin cricketer who has family in Bengaluru, just a few hours by road from Chennai. His father, Ravi Krishnamurthy, played club cricket in Bengaluru before moving to Wellington. He is also the grandson of renowned professor Dr. T.A Balakrishna Adiga, who taught at Vijaya College, Bangalore and at BASE, Basavanagudi. The two-month-long tournament will bring Ravindra closer to his roots.

Rachin Ravindra is a newbie to T20 cricket, with only 20 internationals and 56 domestic matches. Most recently, he made an impact with his 35-ball 68 against Australia in February. He hit six sixes and two fours while crafting the knock.

Besides batting, the 24-year-old is a handy left-arm spin bowler with 11 scalps in international cricket. Rachin grew up watching the IPL, and now he will be playing under the legendary Dhoni, with Stephen Fleming, former New Zealand captain, as coach.

Ravindra's front-foot drive through the covers fetched him 115 runs in the World Cup. He applied it 135 times.

Rachin Ravindra's records in T20I

Matches: 20

Runs: 214

Strike-Rate: 133.75

Highest score: 68

Wickets: 11

Best bowling: 3/22