New Zealand all-rounder Rachin Ravindra has credited his recent Indian Premier League experience for helping him prepare mentally and tactically for the national team's upcoming Test matches in Europe.
Ravindra had limited playing time with the Kolkata Knight Riders during the 2026 tournament but returned to New Zealand early to shift focus to the longer format.
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The squad is set to play a historic first men's Test against Ireland later this month, followed by a three-match Test series against England.
Learning from the Best
Despite limited game time, Ravindra used the IPL to consult elite international batsmen about overseas red-ball conditions.
He spoke with Ajinkya Rahane, who scored a hundred at Lord's and has extensive experience in England and Australia.
Ravindra also had discussions with Virat Kohli and KL Rahul, gaining insights into batting techniques and success strategies.
“There's benefits to playing cricket and training. There's also massive benefits being in the IPL too,” Ravindra said.
He noted that the coaching staff, including Abhishek Nayar and Shane Watson, provided valuable knowledge about English conditions.
“Being able to sit down and talk to Virat Kohli about batting or talking to KL Rahul - all these guys who've done well and had success over periods of time,” he added.
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Ravindra returned to Christchurch for training sessions on grass facilities to build a solid foundation before the tour.
“I just wanted to give myself the best chance.
I was down in Christchurch for a day and had a couple of training sessions down there,” he said.
The all-rounder feels refreshed after a short break at home, having spent much time away from family.
“It's a great little refresh.
We spend so much time away from home and even four or five days at home, which I've had, is fantastic,” Ravindra stated.
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New Zealand Cricket will begin the multi-format European tour with the inaugural Test against Ireland.
