New Zealand's emerging talent Rachin Ravindra has been named the ICC Player of The Month for October after a stellar performance in the World Cup 2023. Ravindra outshone established cricket stars Jasprit Bumrah and Quinton de Kock to secure this prestigious award.
Ravindra's remarkable World Cup journey has been nothing short of extraordinary, breaking numerous records during his debut appearance in the tournament. As of November 9, 2023, Ravindra leads the list of highest run-scorers in the ongoing World Cup, accumulating an impressive total of 565 runs from 9 group stage matches. He narrowly edges out Quinton de Kock, who amassed 550 runs from 8 matches in his recent ODI campaign.
"I'm very grateful to win this award," Ravindra told ICC after his win.
"It's been a special month personally and for the team. Being able to play a World Cup in India has been incredibly special.
"Being backed by the team helps a lot, being able to go out there with a lot of freedom, and play your natural game. The lucky thing is the wickets have been really nice to bat on, suits my game in terms of being positive and taking the game on," Ravindra concluded.
Ravindra's exceptional performance in his debut World Cup has been nothing short of historic. His 565 runs as of November 9, 2023, place him at the pinnacle of run-scorers in their maiden World Cup, surpassing the previous record held by England's Jonny Bairstow.
Ravindra's World Cup journey commenced with a bang as he smashed a century against defending champions England in the tournament opener, scoring an unbeaten 123 runs. This remarkable feat made him the youngest New Zealander to achieve a World Cup century and only the fourth Kiwi to achieve this milestone on his World Cup debut. Furthermore, his century was the fastest by any New Zealander in the World Cup, achieved in just 82 deliveries.
His stellar performances continued with two more centuries against Australia and Pakistan, along with two half-centuries. His 116-run knock against Australia was particularly impressive, displaying a striking strike rate of 130.34. Against Pakistan, he contributed 108 runs from 94 balls, aiding New Zealand in setting their highest score in an ODI World Cup centuries.
Ravindra's consistency and ability to perform under pressure have established him as a vital asset for the New Zealand team. His remarkable run in the tournament has earned him the distinction of being the Kiwi batter with the most World Cup centuries.
Additionally, Ravindra has made significant contributions with the ball, exemplified by his two-wicket haul against Sri Lanka, which contributed to New Zealand's strong bowling performance.
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