New Zealand’s young batter, Rachin Ravindra, trained at the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) academy ahead of the start of the Test series against India in India.
The Kiwis went on to win the Test series 3-0 and inflicted India’s first Test series loss at home since 2012. It was also the first instance that the team suffered a series whitewash in a Test series at home since the time they started playing this format of the game.
Ravindra had a big impact in the Test series and he went to the CSK academy to practice right after the end of the NZ vs AFG Test. He scored a century in the first Test match of the series in Bengaluru and gave New Zealand a great win to kickstart the series.
However, former India and CSK player, Robin Uthappa, is not happy with the fact that CSK allowed Ravindra to train right ahead of the Test series against India. He feels that CSK takes good care of the interests of their players but they need to stop favoring the franchise players ahead of an important series against the national team.
“Rachin Ravindra came here and practiced at the CSK Academy. CSK is a beautiful franchise that will always look after its franchise players but a line has to be drawn where the interest of the country comes ahead of your franchise players, especially when he is a foreign player and comes and plays against our country,”
Uthappa said on his YouTube channel
Robin Uthappa praised Rachin Ravindra’s century in Bengaluru
Uthappa acknowledged that CSK is known for going beyond the call of duty for their players, showing great care and support. However, he suggested that this kindness might sometimes overlook a crucial boundary.
He emphasized that when it comes to representing one’s country, especially when playing against it, there should be a clear distinction or limit on how much support a franchise should offer to players from opposition teams. Uthappa loves CSK but believes that national interest should take precedence over club or franchise loyalty.
He then praised Ravindra’s performance during the Test series, calling his century one of the finest by an overseas player in India, particularly highlighting the quality of his innings on that specific pitch.
