"As of right now, everyone still values international cricket ahead of the franchise stuff" - Rachin Ravindra on the changing landscape of the game
New Zealand all-rounder Rachin Ravindra has opined that international cricket still has the final say over the ever-rising franchise cricket. The numerous franchise-based T20 leagues over the globe have had an undeniable impact on the way cricket is perceived, and its growth has also forced international cricket to work around it.
The franchise cricket frenzy has hit New Zealand perhaps a bit more than the other nations. Several senior players like Trent Boult and Kane Williamson have opted out of the central contract list for the luxuries of a lenient cricketing schedule and lucrative finances.
The departures of such star players have also facilitated the entries of newcomers like Ravindra. The all-rounder made it to the contract list for the first time as he is considered an all-format player, but he is also testing out the franchise league waters.
He played for the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the 2024 Indian Premier League (IPL) and is currently playing for the Washington Freedom in the 2024 Major League Cricket (MLC).
“I can only talk for my situation. I’m fully committed to playing for New Zealand at this current stage of time. You never know what the situation will look like in the future. As of right now, I can only speak for what’s happening now. For me, I’m committed to playing for New Zealand and whatever comes up in between, I’ll pick up," Ravindra told NZ Herald.
"There’s still a lot of context for international cricket, there’s a lot of context for world tournaments [and] World Cups. The World Test Championship puts emphasis on every test match you play. For a lot of people, test match cricket is still the pinnacle. I’m not sure if that’s going to die out. But as of right now, everyone still values [international cricket] ahead of the franchise stuff," he added.
Williamson has already expressed a desire to partake in the 2025 SA20 to prolong his T20 career. However, it will cause him to miss a part of New Zealand's home season. He had also relinquished the captaincy after the Blackcaps' group-stage exit in the 2024 T20 World Cup.
"Smith is one of the greatest players of all time" - Ravindra on the Aussie core at Washington Freedom
Washington Freedom are currently enjoying a dominant run in the 2024 MLC. The franchise roped in a slew of Australians, including the likes of Steve Smith, Travis Head, and Glenn Maxwell, along with Ricky Ponting as the head coach.
The formula clicked right away as the opening combination of Smith and Head worked wonders while Maxwell has been among the runs and wickets in the league stage. The franchise finished as table toppers, and will now face the San Francisco Unicorns in the Qualifier 1 clash soon.
It’s interesting sharing dressing rooms with different guys from different countries, especially Aussies.
“They’re world-class players, being able to take everything I can from them has been great. Trav is in the form of his life the last two years, he hasn’t put a foot wrong. Smudger [Smith] is one of the greatest players of all time. It’s great to be able to pick their brains and see how they go about their business. Having Punter [Ponting] as coach too, another guy who’s conquered it all, teaches you that competitive winning mindset. I’ve taken a lot from it so far," Ravindra told NZ Herald.
Ravindra has scored 85 runs in five innings at a strike rate of 157.50 this season so far.