'So Proud Of You': Rachin Ravindra Shares Touching Message from Father After Century Against India

Rachin Ravindra of New Zealand recently shared an emotional moment with his father, who sent him a heartfelt text expressing pride in his accomplishments after the Black Caps made history by defeating India 3-0 in a Test series on Indian soil. This remarkable achievement is particularly meaningful to Ravindra, as his parents hail from Bengaluru, making the victory resonate on a personal level.

The 24-year-old cricketer, who shone in the series, recalled that receiving the message from his father, Ravi Krishnamurthy, was a special moment, saying, "I haven't heard my dad say to me, 'so proud of you' often in my life, so it was nice to get that message when we won."

Ravindra's parents, Ravi and Deepa, are originally from Bengaluru, where his grandparents, T. Balakrishna Adiga—a respected educationist—and Poornima still reside. His father had the opportunity to witness Rachin's outstanding performance live during the first Test in Bengaluru, where Ravindra scored a century and an unbeaten 39, contributing significantly to New Zealand's eight-wicket victory.

Reflecting on his father's presence at the match, Ravindra said, "I had Dad watch the first Test in Bangalore in his hometown, which was nice, and I'm sure Mum was biting her nails in front of the TV, not moving an inch back home." He emphasized the significance of achieving such success in the country where his parents were born, calling it "amazing."

Despite being born and raised in Wellington, New Zealand, Ravindra remains connected to his Indian roots. He noted, "Although I've always maintained I'm 100 percent Kiwi born and brought up, it's nice to get that reminder every now and again."

Ravindra finished the series as New Zealand's leading run-scorer, amassing 256 runs at an impressive average of 51.20. His passion for cricket was nurtured by his father, who would wake him up at 5 a.m. for practice sessions, throwing balls to him in their driveway. "Obviously I'm just very grateful for everyone in my inner circle. I was making him get up and he'd come and throw balls for me two hours before school," he said.

Ravindra expressed his gratitude for his mother's support as well, acknowledging the "unconditional love" that shaped his journey. The series victory is particularly historic for New Zealand, marking their first Test series win in India since they began touring the country in the 1955-56 season.

The Black Caps not only ended India's 12-year unbeaten home streak in Tests but also created history by becoming the first team to achieve a 3-0 series win in India, clinching the third Test by 25 runs in Mumbai. Ravindra described the feeling of winning the series as "unbelievable" and shared the joy of celebrating with his teammates on the field. "It's hard to quite quantify, but it's pretty special," he concluded.