Rachin Ravindra has scored a total of five centuries in ODIs, and interestingly, all of them have come in ICC tournaments, three in the 2023 World Cup and two in the ongoing Champions Trophy. This impressive track record highlights the New Zealand batter’s remarkable consistency on the big stage.
Currently performing exceptionally well for the Black Caps, Rachin Ravindra stands out not just for his ability to build his innings but also for his attacking instincts when required. He isn’t a slogger but crafts his innings with precision while knowing exactly when to accelerate, making him one of the most promising talents in world cricket.
As India gears up to face New Zealand in the Champions Trophy final, Ravindra’s current form makes him a significant threat to India’s chances. With his ability to deliver under pressure, he could once again showcase his skills in the crucial encounter.
So, which Indian bowlers can counter this emerging star? Take a look at three Indian bowlers who could trouble Rachin Ravindra in the Champions Trophy 2025 final.
Indian bowlers who could trouble Rachin Ravindra in Champions Trophy final
Mohammed Shami
Now experience speaks, and this is exactly what everyone is hoping from Mohammed Shami, who is undoubtedly one of India’s most important bowlers in the white-ball format. His current Champions Trophy outing has been mixed, yet we haven’t seen Shami that dominated in last year’s ODI World Cup.
However, Shami is a bowler who enjoys performing against the Black Caps, with his sensational 7-wicket haul in the 2023 Champions Trophy semi-final against New Zealand being the perfect example. He could be the one to trouble New Zealand’s star batter, Rachin Ravindra.
Although Ravindra hasn’t shown significant struggles against pace, he does prefer playing aggressively against fast bowlers. This could provide an experienced bowler like Shami with the opportunity to use all his skills on Dubai’s slow surface to dismiss him.
Hardik Pandya
Hardik Pandya has already dismissed the stylish Black Caps batter in the group stage clash, and what could help Hardik this time is the variety in his bowling. By using a mix of cutters and slower deliveries, Pandya can create doubts in Rachin Ravindra’s mind about whether to go for the ball or leave it.
With the experience Pandya possesses, he could be the one to trouble Rachin Ravindra once again and potentially dismiss him in the Champions Trophy final.
Kuldeep Yadav
Yes, it’s a fact that Kuldeep Yadav has not been in top form recently. However, if we look back at IPL 2024, we can see that although Rachin Ravindra has been phenomenal against spinners overall, he struggled against wrist spinners in the tournament.
This is a card that Rohit Sharma could play to trouble Rachin Ravindra in the Champions Trophy 2025 final. Another important point to note is that Ravindra has often been dismissed after getting a good start.
From India’s perspective, it might be a worthwhile risk to use Kuldeep Yadav strategically to target Ravindra. Kuldeep could potentially be the key to unsettling the New Zealand batter and curbing his impact in the final.
