Rachin is back! Stylish Kiwi batter scores classy ton on a record-breaking night in Rawalpindi
In a remarkable comeback, New Zealand's star cricketer Rachin Ravindra made an impressive return to the cricket field, scoring a scintillating century after recovering from a horrific forehead injury sustained just a few weeks ago during the tri-nation series final in Lahore. The youngster's stunning knock was his fourth century in One Day Internationals (ODIs), marking a triumphant return to form.
Ravindra, who was named in New Zealand's squad for their second Group A match in the 2025 Champions Trophy against Bangladesh in Rawalpindi, marked his debut in the prestigious tournament. Alongside Tom Latham, Ravindra is steering New Zealand toward their target, with both players hitting a flurry of boundaries in an aggressive display of batting.
Ravindra also made history by becoming the fifth fastest New Zealand player to reach 1,000 ODI runs, achieving the milestone in just 26 innings. The only players to have reached the landmark faster are Devon Conway (22 innings), Glenn Turner (24 innings), Daryl Mitchell (24 innings), and Andrew Jones (25 innings).
Meanwhile, New Zealand spinner Michael Bracewell was in superb form as he returned career-best ODI figures of 4/26, playing a crucial role in restricting Bangladesh to 236/9 in a vital Group A clash. Bracewell’s brilliant performance helped New Zealand maintain control of the match, keeping Bangladesh’s scoring under check and creating opportunities for his teammates to capitalize on.
A win for New Zealand would secure them a place in the semi-finals and eliminate both Bangladesh and hosts Pakistan from the tournament. India would also progress alongside the Black Caps, should they emerge victorious.
In another significant milestone, New Zealand pacer Matt Henry equalled the legendary Richard Hadlee’s record for the most wickets in ODIs for New Zealand. Henry, who has been a key figure in the Black Caps’ pace attack, achieved the feat during the ongoing match. His figures of 1/57 from nine overs brought his career tally to 158 wickets, placing him joint-eighth on New Zealand’s all-time ODI wicket-takers list.
Henry, who achieved this milestone in just 89 ODI matches—26 fewer than Hadlee’s tally of 115—struggled initially to make an impact but delivered when it mattered most. In the 44th over, he dismissed Bangladesh’s Rishad Hossain, dealing a significant blow to the opposition's lower order. Henry’s well-executed delivery outside off stump induced a loose shot from Hossain, which was caught by New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner.
Alongside Henry, Michael Bracewell’s stellar bowling performance ensured New Zealand’s control over the game. He became just the fourth New Zealand spinner to take a four-wicket haul in ICC ODI tournaments, proving a real threat to the Bangladesh batting order. Bracewell removed key players, including Tanzid Hasan and Towhid Hridoy, who had impressed earlier in the tournament, thereby dismantling Bangladesh’s top order.
As the Champions Trophy progresses, New Zealand look set to continue their strong campaign, with key players like Ravindra, Bracewell, and Henry leading the way. The Black Caps are eyeing a semi-final spot, with hopes high following their dominant display in Rawalpindi.