Rachin Ravindra may not have clocked many hours in the middle during the IPL in 2026, yet the New Zealand all-rounder says the time he did spend around top-level cricket—plus time spent speaking with several of the modern game’s most experienced names—has put him in a strong mental space for the red-ball stretch ahead. With New Zealand set to play their historic first men’s Test against Ireland later this month, followed by a three-match tour of England, Ravindra feels refreshed after returning home early from his IPL spell with the Kolkata Knight Riders.
Key takeaways
- Rachin Ravindra left the Kolkata Knight Riders camp before the season ended, citing limited playing opportunities.
- He says the franchise handled the move smoothly, with discussions involving the team’s leadership about a home refresh.
- Ravindra insists he is not worried about being “out of practice” despite reduced match action in the IPL.
- He used a short window back in New Zealand to sharpen his Test preparations, including training sessions in Christchurch.
- He credits the IPL environment for giving him access to experienced international players and coaches to improve his tactical approach.
Why Ravindra returned home early from KKR
Ravindra explained that KKR were receptive and understanding of his situation, noting that with the way things were unfolding he wasn’t getting a role that would allow him to play regularly. He said the plan to come back to New Zealand for a mental and physical reset was discussed with the franchise’s CEO and coaching staff, with the expectation that he would not be able to fully return until late August due to what lay ahead in the Test schedule.
He added that the overlap between leaving the IPL setup and joining the Ireland tour made the transition easier, especially since he wasn’t featuring in matches. Ravindra also emphasised the value of even a brief period at home—describing it as a welcome recharge—before reconnecting with the group for Ireland.
No “rust” heading into Test cricket
Even though his IPL season did not provide consistent match time, Ravindra maintained that he does not feel underprepared for the switch to longer-format cricket. He pointed out that while he may not have played a game for a stretch, the IPL period still offered opportunities to train, stay involved, and talk with teammates and staff. He also referenced how intense the schedule had been before the IPL, which helped explain why he doesn’t feel too far away from match rhythm.
To further support his transition, Ravindra used his brief return to New Zealand to fine-tune his Test work. He said that after refocusing from T20 franchise demands to the requirements of the longer format, he spent time in Christchurch and completed a couple of training sessions there. He also highlighted the availability of grass practice facilities, which helped his build-up.
IPL learnings: conversations with senior figures
One of Ravindra’s main takeaways from his IPL stint was the chance to learn from established international experience. He singled out the opportunity to speak with Ajinkya Rahane, describing him as someone who has played a large amount of cricket overseas, has had success against teams such as England and Australia, and even scored a century at Lord’s. Ravindra said those kinds of conversations add meaningful value to a player’s preparation for Test cricket in environments like England.
He also spoke about the influence of coaching and senior professionals around him, including batting coach Shane Watson, who has extensive experience in England and has coached many players who have gone on to perform there. Ravindra said the benefits extend well beyond T20 tactics, pointing to the chance to sit down and discuss batting with senior names such as Virat Kohli and to talk with KL Rahul about approaches that have worked across different periods of time.
A timely reset before a seaming tour
For Ravindra, the combination of limited IPL match action and the chance to reset ahead of the upcoming tour is expected to be particularly useful because he anticipates conditions that will demand discipline, especially in seaming environments. With New Zealand beginning their historic first men’s Test against Ireland later in the month, and then moving on to a three-match series in England, Ravindra is aiming to carry forward the preparation and insights he gathered during his IPL time—while leaning on the fresh start he says he earned back home.
