By Avinash Kr Atish New Delhi, November 19, : .Rachin Ravindra is the latest in a long line of Indian-origin players to have played for New Zealand’s men’s cricket team.
India is home to a lot of talented players, but it also has high levels of competition due to its large population.Because there are only a few spots available in Team India cricket, it is not possible for everyone to make a career in the sport.
Some people migrate to other countries and take up cricket.A small number of cricket-loving people also move to other countries in search of a better life, but choose to become professionals.
Cricket follows Indians everywhere they go, as the saying goes.It has been proven that nearly every country with cricket is home to players from India.
They are not only part of the team, but many famous Indian cricketers have also played for high-ranking countries like Australia, England and New Zealand.
We look back at Indian-origin Black Caps players over the years, as we continue to watch the T20Is between India & New Zealand.
Dipak Patel
Patel, who was born in Kenya, began his career as a cricketer in England.He played for Worcestershire for nearly a decade and took 357 wickets.In addition, scored 9,734 runs.The impressive performance of the Indian-born player was not enough to land him a chance with the Three Lions.
He had to move to New Zealand to pursue better opportunities.
Dipak, an off-spinner made his debut in New Zealand in 1987.
He represented New Zealand at the World Cups in 1992, 1993, and 1996.In 37 Test matches, he also took 75 wickets.
He scored 1,200 runs.
His opening bowling in 1992 World Cup for the Black Caps is a highlight of his career.
He was known for his left-arm loopy offies and he stifled the opposition batsmen to stagnation within the first fifteen overs of that World Cup.Modern spinners have become the norm, although it was an extraordinary move back in those days.
Ish Sodhi
Sodhi is a name that refers to a person with Indian heritage.Ish was raised in Ludhiana (Punjabi), but his family moved to New Zealand, where he began his career as a cricketer at a young age.
He made his Test debut in 2013 but it was the shorter formats where he made his name.Sodhi is a legend in T20 cricket, known for his ability to break partnerships and maintain a strong economy.
As a leg spinner, the Rajasthan Royals have represented him both as a player as well as as an official member of the Indian Premier League backroom team.
Jeetan Patel:
Although his parents are Indians, Jeetan was raised in Wellington, New Zealand.John Bracewell, the national coach, identified the off-spin player and brought him to Zimbabwe in 2005 for an ODI Tournament.
He represented the Black Caps cricket team in each of three formats.
His record includes 24 Tests and 44 ODIs.He decided to quit the sport in 2017.
As a spin-bowling consultant, he also worked for the England cricket team.
Rachin Ravindra:
Ravindra, a Kiwi cricketer and all-rounder has strong Indian connections.He was born in Wellington to Indian parents.For the past few years, he has also been playing regularly in India on off-season trips.
Ravindra is Ravi Krishnamurthy’s father, who was a Bengaluru-based software architect and moved to New Zealand in 1990.He founded the Hutt Hawks Club, which sends players to India each summer.
These tours have been attended by international cricketers such as Tom Blundell and James Neesham.
Ravindra was in the field to face the Men in Blue at Jaipur on Wednesday during the T20I first match between India and New Zealand.
He was unable to perform any miracles with his bat and was outscored for 7 runs by Mohammed Siraj, an Indian seamer.
Even though he was unsuccessful with the bat Ravindra’s name attracted cricket fans of India.Ravindra’s name, ‘Rachin”, is an amalgamation of the names Rahul Dravid (Indian batting legend) and Sachin Tendulkar (Indian cricket great).
In September 2021, he made his international debut against Bangladesh.
He has so far played in six T20Is, scoring 54 runs and taking six wickets.Ravindra also played in the New Zealand team that won the World Test Championship earlier this year by beating India.
He did not play in the New Zealand playing XI in this match.
Jeet Raval:
Raval was born in Gujarat and is an opening batsman.He had previously attended the same school that India wicketkeeper Parthiv Patel before his family moved to New Zealand.Both Raval and Patel opened their schools together in the early days.
Raval had played for New Zealand’s Under-19 cricket team and then moved on to playing senior cricket.Raval, a prolific run-scorer in New Zealand’s domestic cricket circuit, was called up for Test play.
He scored over 1000 runs in Auckland in 2015/16 at an average pace of almost 60.
Southpaw played in 24 Test matches so far for New Zealand, scoring 1143 runs.
Ronnie Hira:
Ronnie, another spinner of Indian origin who represented the Black Caps is Ronnie.The cricketer was born in Auckland and played his majority of his cricket there.His consistent performances in domestic cricket’s shortest format earned him a spot in the national team.
Hira’s domestic success hasn’t been replicated at an international level.Ronnie is well-known for his skillful fielding and ability to come down the order.He also participated in the Under-19 World Cup 2006 in Sri Lanka.
Tarun Nethula:
Nethula is a leg spinner.He was born in Andhra Pradesh and has been playing professional cricket since New Zealand where he moved with his family when he turned 12.
In 2008/09, he made an impact in Auckland’s first-class season.He helped Auckland win the State Championship and finished at the top of the wickets charts.
He was selected for the New Zealand team’s limited-over series against Zimbabwe in 2012.
His main performance has been in the domestic tournaments.
He also played only five ODIs in New Zealand.
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