NZ vs SA, Champions Trophy, Semi-final: Rachin Ravindra creates multiple ODI records

Dubai: New Zealand's rising batting sensation Rachin Ravindra continued his remarkable run in ICC tournaments, notching up yet another century in the Champions Trophy semi final against South Africa on Wednesday.

With this latest ton, Ravindra now holds the record for the most hundreds by a New Zealand batsman in ICC ODI tournaments, surpassing Kane Williamson and Nathan Astle.

The landmark moment came in the 32nd over of New Zealand’s innings against South Africa when Ravindra clipped Kagiso Rabada’s delivery off his pads for two runs to reach his century.

Acknowledging the applause from the spectators and his teammates, he raised his bat, marking another fine knock in his growing legacy. Notably, all five of Ravindra’s ODI centuries have come in ICC tournaments, reinforcing his ability to deliver on the big stage.

Ravindra reached his fifth ODI hundred in just 28 innings, making him the second-fastest New Zealand batsman to achieve the feat, behind only Devon Conway (22 innings). His rapid ascent places him ahead of established names like Daryl Mitchell (30 innings), Kane Williamson (56), and Nathan Astle (64), further solidifying his reputation as a future great of New Zealand cricket.

Additionally, Ravindra’s century tally against top teams continues to grow. While Astle and Ross Taylor hold the record for most ODI centuries by a New Zealand batsman against a single team (five each against India and England, respectively), Williamson follows with four against South Africa. Ravindra’s performances suggest he could soon join or surpass this elite group.

Moreover, Ravindra has now joined an exclusive list of batsmen who have scored multiple hundreds in a single ICC Champions Trophy edition. His two centuries in 2025 place him alongside legends like Chris Gayle, Sourav Ganguly, Saeed Anwar, Herschelle Gibbs, Upul Tharanga, Shane Watson and Shikhar Dhawan. Notably, Ganguly and Watson scored their centuries in both the semifinals and finals of their respective editions, a feat Ravindra will look to emulate as the tournament reaches its climax.

With records tumbling at his feet, Ravindra’s meteoric rise continues to capture the imagination of cricket fans worldwide. As New Zealand eyes silverware in the Champions Trophy, Ravindra’s brilliance could prove to be the defining factor in their campaign.