Syed Shahabuddin with Rachin Ravindra (Special Arrangements)

NEW DELHI: Do you still remember what happened to New Zealand all-rounder Rachin Ravindra in IPL 2024? Spin chewed his batting up and spat it out. And the situation became so severe that Chennai Super Kings (CSK) were forced to drop him mid-way through the season. As they say, time is the best healer. And for Ravindra, it has surely become one. Spin, once Ravindra’s archnemesis, has inflicted the same pain on batters who have padded up to face the Kiwi during this T20 World Cup, with his fingers doing all the talking with the ball.Also See: IND vs NZ Live Score T20 Wolrd Cup 2026 Final

Emerging as his team’s top-wicket taker (11) in this edition, Ravindra is now seeing things differently. While his batting pedigree initially dominated the limelight, two more dismissals in the final against India will be enough to make him New Zealand’s joint highest wicket-taker in an edition of the tournament. A single dismissal will result in Ravindra surpassing Daniel Vettori as the Black Caps’ most successful spinner in a T20 World Cup campaign. If we broaden the scale a bit, the left-arm finger spinner has accounted for 11 dismissals in 8 matches at an economy rate of 6.88, trailing the edition’s most successful spinners Varun Chakaravarthy and Adil Rashid by just two wickets.

‘Impact, role similar to Yuvraj Singh in WC 2011’

While Ravindra’s heroics may have caught the opposition and fans by surprise, Sriram Krishnamurthy, the global head coach of CSK academy, certainly isn’t one of them. Krishnamurthy, who has worked extensively with the 26-year-old cricketer, highlighted his bowling as one of the standout aspects from the beginning, terming it as something which came very naturally.

Syed Shahabuddin during a training session with Rachin Ravindra (Special Arrangements)

“Rachin is very good at reading the game. He’s not someone who bowls a lot during practice sessions. Yet, when he takes the ball, you know he’ll be able to do some special things. Rachin has excelled with the ball in the MLC and the Hundred, which makes his current performances no surprise. New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner has used him very well,” said Sriram during an exclusive interaction with TimesofIndia.com.“Every spell of Rachin has left an impact. One of the most noteworthy aspects has been the manner in which he has struck against left-handed batters, being a lefty spinner in an unfavourable match-up, which especially stood out in the semi-final against South Africa with David Miller’s dismissal. I don’t think many people would disagree that his impact and role has been similar to that of Yuvraj Singh in the 2011 World Cup,” he added.Ravindra has provided an edge to the New Zealand bowling attack, with his shrewd gameplay and quality preparation, which first reflected in the opener against Afghanistan in Chennai. The 26-year-old all-rounder was handed the ball in the 18th over, which could have backfired massively. However, Rachin kept the ball well out of the batters’ reach from the onset, and was duly rewarded with the dismissal of dangerman Gulbadin Naib off his second delivery. The New Zealand cricketer has observed Ravindra Jadeja closely at CSK, resulting in valuable inputs.

‘Hard grind in Hyderabad before T20 WC 2026’

Another significant factor behind Rachin’s current success is an intense one-month camp in Hyderabad before the T20 World Cup, where the all-rounder worked extensively on hitting the right areas and variations. The New Zealand cricketer trained under ex-Andhra Pradesh captain Syed Shahabuddin, who urged him to bowl stump-to-stump and as per the field placements.“Ravindra can be lethal with assistance from the wicket, considering his consistency. I had encouraged the CSK team management to give him more opportunities with the ball but he hardly got one to two overs. Santner and the New Zealand think-tank is showing great belief in Ravindra’s bowling, which has proved to be a game-changer,” shared Shahabuddin.

Syed Shahabuddin with Rachin Ravindra (Special Arrangements)

While the fingerspinner has impressed with his high-impact gameplay, he once lacked agility and speed which hampered effectiveness. Former New Zealand coach Glenn Pocknall played a key role in enabling Ravindra to bowl at a quicker pace and deliver longer spells by developing his strength. The all-rounder showcased great dedication, training for six hours a day.“I first saw Rachin bowl at 15 and was deeply impressed by his unbelievable control and aura. It is very challenging to face him on flat wickets as well as turning tracks because he can spin the ball hard and into the wicket. Ex-New Zealand spinner Jeetan Patel has guided him extensively and I fully expect Rachin to pose a threat against India,” shared Pocknall.

‘Varun Chakaravarthy would’ve picked 15 wickets playing in Sri Lanka’

Chakaravarthy’s personal coach AC Prathiban praised Ravindra’s tactical astuteness, highlighting the lack of room for batters as well as the crafty use of angles to exploit the longer ends of the ground. However, Prathiban also directed focus towards New Zealand playing a lot of matches in Sri Lanka, where the advantage of bigger boundaries comes into play.

Syed Shahabuddin during a training session with Rachin Ravindra

“Jasprit Bumrah and Varun would have picked 15 wickets at least if the Indian team had bowled as much in those conditions. Mishits were going for sixes during the semi-final at the Wankhede. However, credit to Rachin for doing his homework,” stated Prathiban.Ravindra revealed a desire to make a batter’s life as hard as possible during an interaction after New Zealand secured a spot in the final, which the Indian juggernaut will be well wary of.

New Zealand’s Rachin Ravindra, right, celebrates with teammates the wicket of Sri Lanka’s captain Dasun Shanaka, centre, during the T20 World Cup cricket match between Sri Lanka and New Zealand in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2026. (AP Photo)

TimesofIndia.com in Colombo: New Zealand kept their T20 World Cup campaign alive with a commanding 61-run win over Sri Lanka at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on Wednesday, a result shaped by composure under pressure with the bat, clinical precision with the ball, and an atmosphere driven relentlessly by Sri Lankan fans who refused to drift away even as the contest slipped beyond their team.Long after the outcome appeared inevitable, the stands remained full, the drums kept beating and the trumpets echoed through the Colombo night. Every boundary was still applauded, every piece of good fielding acknowledged. Wins or losses have never defined Sri Lankan fandom, and even as their World Cup campaign came to an end, the loyalty did not waver. Covering a Sri Lanka match is rarely just about cricket. It feels like a festival, and on this night, the celebration continued despite the pain.

Santner, McConchie turn the innings

Earlier, put in to bat on a surface that offered grip and variable bounce, the visitors began with intent. Finn Allen counterpunched sharply against Dilshan Madushanka, taking on the movement with instinctive aggression. But as quickly as the tempo rose, it dipped. Allen’s dismissal triggered a brief wobble, Tim Seifert followed soon after, and Sri Lanka sensed an opening.Rachin Ravindra brought fluency through the middle overs, rotating strike and finding the occasional boundary, but the introduction of spin shifted the balance decisively. Maheesh Theekshana, operating with subtle changes of pace and trajectory, strangled New Zealand’s scoring options. Ravindra fell attempting a cut hit too flat, Mark Chapman was undone by turn and bounce, and Daryl Mitchell was beaten by skid rather than spin. From a position of comfort at 75 for 2, New Zealand slid to 84 for 6 in the space of nine deliveries.It was here that Mitchell Santner and Cole McConchie stepped in to rescue the innings. The approach was uncomplicated and clear-headed. Survival came first. Boundaries were not chased, singles were valued and dot balls were absorbed without panic. McConchie, playing his first major role of the tournament, broke a 33-ball boundary drought late in the 16th over with a crisp strike through the infield. The release was immediate. Santner followed by reading length early and targeting the shorter leg side boundary with authority. The momentum swing was sudden and decisive. Santner went after Theekshana, who had been Sri Lanka’s most economical bowler until then, muscling slog sweeps and punishing full tosses. McConchie matched him stroke for stroke, using clever bat angles and strong bottom-hand hits to exploit gaps behind square.What had begun as a recovery turned into a late surge. In the final four overs, the seventh-wicket pair plundered 70 runs, transforming New Zealand’s total from fragile to formidable. Santner’s 47 from 26 balls anchored the charge, while McConchie’s unbeaten 31 ensured there was no late collapse. Together, they added 84 in 47 deliveries and lifted New Zealand to a competitive 168 for 7.

Henry sets up the defence

In reply, Sri Lanka’s chase never truly found its feet and was disrupted from the first ball. Matt Henry bowled Pathum Nissanka with a delivery that jagged back to hit middle stump. It was a classic seam bowler’s dismissal and a psychological blow that stunned a full house.Henry followed it up with a wicket maiden and then struck again with the first ball of his second over, removing Charith Asalanka. Two overs, two wickets and just three runs conceded summed up his impact. Sri Lanka limped to 20 for 2 at the end of the powerplay, their lowest such total in the tournament, and the uphill climb became steeper with every over.The squeeze never eased. Lockie Ferguson’s pace added urgency without sacrificing control, while Santner and Ish Sodhi closed down scoring options from either end. The fielding mirrored the bowling intensity, with sharp catching and athletic work inside the ring ensuring Sri Lanka were forced to take risks rather than accumulate.The decisive blow came through Rachin Ravindra, whose left-arm spin turned pressure into collapse. Varying his pace and width cleverly, Ravindra lured batters out of their crease and allowed Tim Seifert to shine behind the stumps. Kusal Mendis and Pavan Rathnayake were both stumped, beaten by flight, drift and turn. Ravindra struck again when Dasun Shanaka top-edged a cut, and completed his four-wicket haul by dismissing Dushan Hemantha. His figures of 4 for 27 reflected not just wickets, but an ability to sense panic and exploit it ruthlessly.Kamindu Mendis offered brief resistance, but wickets continued to fall at regular intervals. Glenn Phillips and Daryl Mitchell ensured chances were taken, Santner chipped in to close out the innings and Sri Lanka were eventually bowled out for 107.For New Zealand, the victory does more than end Sri Lanka’s campaign. It keeps their own semifinal hopes alive in a tightly contested Super Eight phase. Their blueprint is now clear. Strike early with the new ball, suffocate through the middle overs and trust the depth in their batting to recover from adversity.For Sri Lanka, the tournament ends with disappointment, but also with a reminder of what remains unbreakable. Even as the final wickets fell, the crowd stayed. The band played on, the trumpets rang out and the applause continued. The result belonged to New Zealand, but the night, as always in Colombo, belonged to the fans.Brief Scores New Zealand: 168/7 in 20 overs (Mitchell Santner 47, Cole McConchie 31 not out; Maheesh Theekshana 3/30, Dushmantha Chameera 3/38)Sri Lanka: 107/8 in 20 overs (Kamindu Mendis 31; Rachin Ravindra 4/27, Matt Henry 2/14)