Indian-origin Rachin Ravindra smashes fastest hundred on ODI World Cup debut against England
New Zealand batter Rachin Ravindra slammed a century on his ICC Cricket World Cup debut during the 2023 tournament opener against England at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Thursday.
Ravindra became the fifth New Zealand batter and 16th overall to score a hundred on World Cup debut, joining his partner Devon Conway who also recorded the feat in the same innings.
Ravindra reached the mark off just 82 deliveries after walking in at number 3, replacing skipper Kane Williamson in the playing XI.
The left-hander converted just his second fifty-plus score into a century in the format. The 23-year-old’s ton is also the fastest by a Black Caps batter at the World Cup, surpassing Conway (83 balls) and Martin Guptill (88 balls).
Ravindra eventually finished unbeaten on 126 during a thumping nine-wicket win. He has featured in just 13 ODIs, amassing over 300 runs along with 12 wickets.
23-year-old Rachin Ravindra made full use of the opportunity on World Cup debut
It wasn’t a great day for Ravindra with the ball as he was hit for 76 runs in his 10 overs. However, with the bat, Ravindra showed completely at home batting higher up the order. This was also not the first time he had come in early in the innings recently, as he scored 97 against Pakistan in the warm-up game against Pakistan.
Ravindra was promoted since Kane Williamson was ruled out of the opening match as he hadn’t reached full fitness.
England had posted 282 runs in their 50 overs after a fantastic performance from the Blackcaps. In response, Conway got New Zealand off to a flyer before Will Young was dismissed for a duck. Ravindra joined Conway in the middle and the duo put the pressure on the England bowling.
Ravindra was the aggressor in the early part of the partnership and reached his fifty with a fine six off Moeen Ali and it only took him 36 balls to make it to the landmark. Conway would switch gears in between and reach his fifty in 36 balls as well and they continued their onslaught on the bowling.
From there, Conway became the aggressor in the innings and started to take on the England bowlers, with a special liking for Adil Rashid.
The opener would reach his hundred in just 83 balls and his innings consisted of 13 boundaries and two sixes. Conway became the 15th player to hit a hundred on his ODI World Cup debut with the last player to do so being Aaron Finch in 2015.
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