Rachin Ravindra converted his maiden Test hundred into a double hundred on a sunny Monday afternoon on Day 2 of the ongoing first Test against South Africa. Rachin reached his 200* on a sunny Monday afternoon from 340 balls, with 21 boundaries and 1 six. The young NZ opener received steady support from Daryl Mitchell (75) throughout the day, and later partnered with Tom Blundell as he approached the 190s. Ravindra remained composed even after Blundell was dismissed while he was at the non-striker’s end on 199*.

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Subsequently, Glenn Phillips joined him at 391 for 5, facing pressure from the South African bowlers to slow down the scoring rate. Despite this, Ravindra maintained his composure, with the crowd fully engaged and applauding every delivery he faced, especially during Dane Paterson’s tight spell, which seemed to prolong his stay on 199*.

After finding a single off Neil Brand, Ravindra accomplished a remarkable feat by joining a select group of New Zealand stars in history, including Martin Donnelly, Mathew Sinclair, and Devon Conway, who have managed to turn their maiden Test centuries into maiden Test double centuries.

Rachin Ravindra’s journey to this milestone began on the opening day of the Test match, where he, alongside Kane Williamson, steered New Zealand to a commanding position with both batsmen securing centuries. Ravindra’s overnight score of 118 burgeoned to an impressive double hundred in the second session on Day 2. Ravindra’s double hundred helped New Zealand assert its position in the first Test against South Africa as the hosts crossed the 400-run mark in 131 overs.

Ravindra’s double century is a testament to his talent and potential, which had already been highlighted by his record-breaking run in the ODI World Cup 2023, where he scored 578 runs, surpassing legends like Sachin Tendulkar and Babar Azam for the most runs by a batter playing in their first World Cup. Ravindra’s innings was a blend of patience and aggression, as he navigated the South African bowling attack with finesse, inching closer to the elusive double ton, which he eventually secured, marking a significant chapter in his burgeoning career.