
Rachin Ravindra has been offered his first New Zealand Cricket central contract a year after being overlooked for the board’s central retainership.
The 20-player contract list also includes offers for Ravindra’s Wellington teammate Ben Sears, Canterbury’s Will O’Rourke, and Otago’s Jacob Duffy.
Left-arm spinner Ajaz Patel was added to the list after missing out on a contract last year.
Ravindra’s inclusion was unsurprising after he emerged as the breakout star of the ODI World Cup in India, where he scored 578 runs.
The 24-year-old further cemented his place in the Test arena by scoring 240 runs at Mount Maunganui against South Africa in February, the highest maiden Test century by a New Zealand batter.
He also broke into the T20I squad and was named ICC Emerging Player of the Year for 2023, later becoming the youngest recipient of the Sir Richard Hadlee Medal at the New Zealand Cricket Awards.
“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,” Ravindra said in an NZC release.
“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 contributing 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.”
Meanwhile, O’Rourke’s contract offer came after a year in which he represented New Zealand in all three formats.
Sears played 11 T20Is in the previous cycle before making his Test debut against Australia in Christchurch earlier this year.
Notable absentees from the list include Kane Williamson, Lockie Ferguson, and Adam Milne.
Williamson and Ferguson had previously excused themselves from a central contract, while Milne also made himself unavailable for the coming season.
Neil Wagner was left out after retiring from international cricket in February.
Players offered central contracts for 2024-25:
Player Name |
---|
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 |
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