Rachin Ravindra has secured his first New Zealand Cricket 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. Additionally, left-arm spinner Ajaz Patel has been added to the list after missing out on a contract last year.
Ravindra's inclusion was anticipated after his breakout performance at the ODI World Cup in India, where he amassed 578 runs. The 24-year-old then made a significant impact in Test cricket, scoring 240 runs at Mount Maunganui against South Africa in February, marking the highest maiden Test century by a New Zealand batter. His achievements extended to the T20I squad, and his rise was recognised when he was named the ICC Emerging Player of the Year for 2023. He also became the youngest recipient of the Sir Richard Hadlee Medal at the New Zealand Cricket Awards.
In an NZC release, Ravindra expressed his excitement, stating that growing up, he had always thought it would be cool to be on the contract list, and now that it has happened, it feels surreal. He reflected on the past 12 months of playing international cricket, emphasising the importance of continuous improvement and contributing to the Blackcaps. He cherished being part of a special group of players and support staff, highlighting the joy of playing the game he loves with his friends.
Will O'Rourke received a contract offer following a year when he represented New Zealand in all three formats. Ben Sears played 11 T20Is in the previous cycle and made his Test debut against Australia in Christchurch earlier this year.
Notable exclusions from the list are Kane Williamson, Lockie Ferguson, and Adam Milne. Williamson and Ferguson had previously opted out of a central contract, while Milne made himself unavailable for the upcoming season. Neil Wagner was excluded following his retirement from international cricket in February.
Players offered central contracts for 2024-25: 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