Rasheen Ravindra reveals how Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane shaped his Test preparation during IPL stint

Rasheen Ravindra may not have spent much time in the middle during IPL 2026, but the New Zealand all-rounder believes the experience, coupled with conversations with some of the game’s contemporary greats, has him well-prepared for a long period of Test cricket.As New Zealand prepares for a historic first men’s Test against Ireland later this month, followed by a three-match series in England, Ravindra says he feels mentally refreshed after returning home early from his stint with Kolkata Knight Riders, where opportunities were limited.

He left the KKR camp before the end of the season, a decision he says was handled smoothly and with the full support of the franchise.“I mean KKR was very welcoming and understanding of the situation. Obviously, the way things were going, I wasn’t playing. The decision was spoken to the CEO and the coach about the possibility of going home for renewal and obviously I didn’t know I was going home until…well, I wouldn’t be going home until late August because of what was coming,” ESPNcricinfo quoted Ravindra as saying.“So, it’s really nice for them to be able to say, go home, freshen up, do some training and what you need before you join the boys in Ireland.

Because there will always be a little bit of overlap. It made it easier because I wasn’t playing. It’s a great little update. He added: “We spend a lot of time away from home, and even four or five days at home, which I had, is great.”Despite not getting consistent playing time in the Indian Premier League, Ravindra insisted he does not feel undercooked as he heads into busy red-ball duty.“I haven’t played a game for a while, so obviously having drinks in the ISL and getting opportunities to coach and talk to the players has been great.

But to be honest, I don’t really feel that far away from match training. “I think it was a very busy schedule beforehand,” he said.He used the short break in New Zealand to fine-tune his Test preparations, including two sessions in Christchurch where he shifted focus from franchise T20 cricket to the demands of the longer format.“But yeah, I think part of the reason is being able to go home for five days or so and do a bit of training and prepare for what’s to come because we know Test cricket is very important, especially series in Ireland and England.

So I just wanted to give myself the best chance. I was in Christchurch for a day and had two training sessions there. “I had some great grass facilities,” he added.Ravindra suggested that one of the most important lessons he learned from his IPL season was access to experienced international figures, which he believes has enhanced his tactical understanding ahead of the Tests in English conditions.“There are benefits to playing cricket and coaching. There are also huge benefits in the Indian Premier League as well. I mean, you can talk to someone like Ajinkya Rahane, who is a lovely guy who has played a lot of cricket abroad, scored a hundred at Lord’s and played a lot of cricket against England and Australia away from home,” the Kiwi batsman said.He also highlighted the value of the insights provided by coaches and senior professionals around him, including former Australian player Shane Watson, and the opportunity to select the best Indian players.“The coach (Abhishek Nayar) used to be India’s assistant batting coach. I’ve got Shane Watson, who is our batting coach, who has played for England a lot, and he has coached a lot of players who have played for England. So it’s kind of, it’s more than just T20 as well. Being able to sit down and talk to

Virat Kohli

About hitting or talking to him

Kuala Lumpur Rahul

He pointed out that all these guys have done well and achieved success over periods of time.For Ravindra, his brief stint in the Indian Premier League without regular matches also coincided with a timely reset ahead of what is expected to be a tough tour, especially in lockdown conditions.