New Zealand’s emerging star Rachin Ravindra and fast bowler Ben Sears were spotted training in the nets at the Super Kings academy. The cricket academy is an initiative by the Chennai Super Kings, which is spread across Tamil Nadu and also overseas. Ravindra, being a CSK player, got an opportunity to train at the academy and was accompanied by his New Zealand teammate Sears. The New Zealand team is in India for the one-off Test match against Afghanistan, which will begin from 9 September. The Greater Noida Sports Complex Ground, which was Afghanistan’s adopted home ground, will host the first-ever 5-day Test match between the two teams.
Afghanistan team will be without Rashid Khan, who has been battling with back injury issues. In his absence, Hashmatullah Shahidi will be leading the Afghanistan team. The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) announced a 20-member preliminary squad for the upcoming one-off Test and the team has been training in India since their arrival on August 28. The board will pick a 15-member squad for the one-off Test match after assessing the performances of players.
Ravindra in Tests for New Zealand
Meanwhile, the New Zealand team are also in the country as they will face India almost a month after the completion of the one-off Test against Afghanistan. The two teams will face each other in a 3-match Test series, starting October 16. The Blackcaps will then travel to Sri Lanka for 3 T20Is and 3 ODI matches.
Ravindra turned out to be New Zealand’s break-out star the last time Kiwis arrived in India for the ODI World Cup during the same time in previous year. The Kiwi player made his debut for New Zealand in Test during the 2021 Test series against India on November 25. During the Test series against South Africa this year, he became only the 4th batter to convert his maiden ton into a double century. It will be interesting to see what he will do on New Zealand’s sub-continent tour.
