Rachin Ravindra named Player of the Champions Trophy 2025
'It would have been nice to have the icing on the cake with the trophy but cricket is a cruel game,' says Ravindra
DUBAI: New Zealand’s top-order batter Rachin Ravindra on Sunday, was adjudged the Player of the Tournament, thanks to his consistent performances during the recently-concluded ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025.
25-year-old Ravindra, who missed the curtain raiser against Pakistan in Karachi on February 19 due to a forehead injury he sustained in the opening match of the preceding tri-nation ODI series, announced his arrival in the eight-team tournament with a century against Bangladesh.
The left-handed batter played a match-winning knock of 112 in his maiden Champions Trophy appearance and helped New Zealand to chase down a modest 237-run target and book their spots in the semi-final.
Ravindra had a quiet outing in the group-stage match against India as he managed to score just six runs in the low-stakes clash.
The opening batter reclaimed his form by notching up a brisk century in the semi-final against South Africa.
He scored 108 off 101 deliveries and helped New Zealand register the highest total in the history of the prestigious eight-team tournament.
In the final, Ravindra got off to a flying start but could not convert it into a big knock as Kuldeep Yadav cleaned him up to put India in command.
Ravindra finished as the leading run-scorer of the Champions Trophy 2025 with 263 runs at a brilliant average of 65.75, laced with two centuries.
Besides his batting brilliance, Rachin Ravindra also served as a handy spin-bowling option for New Zealand and accounted for three dismissals, out of which one came in the final.
“Certainly is bitter-sweet. Was a glorious final. The individual accolades are great and playing for a team is great,” said Ravindra.
“Maybe we get to play on a good wicket. I like playing tournament cricket because you are playing for a goal. Very proud of my past. Have so many people to thank.
“It would have been nice to have the icing on the cake with the trophy but cricket is a cruel game. All members of the squad have a part to play. There isn't an established player or a newbie. We go about our business and play like a team.”
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