The Indian root of New Zealand cricketer Rachin Ravindra

Rachin Ravindra, a prominent New Zealand cricketer, embodies a rich blend of New Zealand upbringing and Indian heritage. Born in Wellington on November 18, 1999, to parents of Indian origin, his journey from local New Zealand cricket to international acclaim is deeply intertwined with his ancestral roots in Bengaluru, India.
Rachin's father, Ravi Krishnamurthy, hails from Bengaluru, India. A software architect by profession, Ravi played club-level cricket in Bengaluru before relocating to New Zealand in 1997. His passion for the sport significantly influenced Rachin's early exposure to cricket. Rachin's grandfather, Balakrishna Adiga, is a renowned educationist in India.
Growing up in Wellington, Rachin began playing cricket at the tender age of five. His father's influence and the family's cricketing background played a pivotal role in nurturing his talent.
Last year, Rachin revealed receiving a message from his dad. "I haven't heard my dad say to me, 'so proud of you' often in my life, so it was nice to get that message when we won," Ravindra said on Sen Radio.
“I had Dad watch the first test in Bangalore in his hometown, which was nice, and I’m sure Mum was biting her nails in front of the TV not moving an inch back home," he added.
Rachin's achievements in Bengaluru were not just professional triumphs but also personal celebrations of his heritage. Scoring a century in the city where his father grew up and played domestic cricket added an emotional layer to his success. Reflecting on this, Rachin expressed immense pride in his Indian heritage and acknowledged the unique excitement of playing Test cricket in his ancestral city.
"I was making him [dad] get up and he’d come and throw balls for me two hours before school. Mum getting me ready every day for school, training and games – that unconditional love, which I’ll never forget. That’s stuff I’ll never take for granted,” he revealed on the radio. “It’s very special and to be able to do it in the country of (my parents’) birth is amazing. Although I’ve always maintained I’m 100 percent Kiwi born and brought up, it’s nice to get that reminder every now and again," he added.
The name "Rachin" was initially thought to be a portmanteau of the first names of Indian cricket legends Rahul Dravid and Sachin Tendulkar. However, Ravi Krishnamurthy has dismissed this as a coincidence, despite acknowledging the similarity.