New Zealand young batter Rachin Ravindra has been handed his maiden central contract for the 2024-25. A total of 20 players have been handed the central contract by Cricket New Zealand for the current year.
Apart from Rachin Ravindra the list also includes Wellington’s Ben Sears, Canterbury’s Will O’Rourke and Otago’s Jacob Duffy. After missing the previous year’s contract, Left-arm spinner Ajaz Patel was included in the New Zealand Central Contract for 2024-25.
Rachin Ravindra’s inclusion in the central contract is not a surprise after his performance in the ODI World Cup 2023 in India. Rahin scored a whopping 578 runs in 10 innings which includes three centuries and two half centuries.
Apart from shining in limited over games, Rachin also marked his arrival in style in the red ball format. During the South Africa test series in February this year, Rachin scored 240 and registered the highest maiden Test century by a New Zealand batter.
Following his impressive performance in the T20I format, the Wellington-born was named the ICC Emerging Player of the Year for 2023 and later became the youngest recipient of the Sir Richard Hadlee Medal at the New Zealand Cricket Awards.
Kane Williamson, Lockie Ferguson and Adam Milne are the notable absentees in the list. The former two had previously excused themselves from a central contract while Milne made himself unavailable for the coming season. On the other hand, Neil Wagner was left out after retiring from international cricket in February.
“Growing up you’d see those contract lists come out each year and think it would be cool to be on that list one day – and for it to eventuate now is a pinch-myself moment. It’s been a really cool past 12 months playing international cricket. I’ve learned a lot and the hunger is definitely there to keep improving and giving to the Blackcaps.
It’s such a special group to be in, from players to support staff – and that’s been the most enjoyable part, to be honest. Playing a game you love with your mates for a living is something very special, and I hold it close to my heart”, Ravindra was quoted as saying in an NZC release.
2024-25 New Zealand Central Contract Players List
- Finn Allen
- Tom Blundell
- Michael Bracewell
- Mark Chapman
- Devon Conway
- Jacob Duffy
- Matt Henry
- Kyle Jamieson
- Tom Latham
- Daryl Mitchell
- Henry Nicholls
- Will O’Rourke
- Ajaz Patel
- Glenn Phillips
- Rachin Ravindra
- Mitchell Santner
- Ben Sears
- Ish Sodhi
- Tim Southee
- Will Young
