Rachin Ravindra may not have spent much time in the middle during IPL 2026, but the New Zealand all-rounder believes that experience, along with interactions with some of the game’s modern greats, has prepared him well for a tough stint in Test cricket.As New Zealand prepare for their 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 easily handled with the franchise’s full support.“I mean KKR was very welcoming and understanding of the situation. Obviously, the way it was going, I wasn’t playing. The decision was made with the CEO and the coach about possibly coming home for a refresher and obviously I didn’t know that I would be home until then… Well, I won’t be home until the end of August because of what came from ESPNFO.”“So, it’s great for them to say go home, refresh, do a bit of training and what you need before you join the boys in Ireland. Because there’s always a bit of overlap. It made it easier because I wasn’t playing. It’s a little bit of a refresher. We spend so much time away from home, and it adds four or five days at home.”Despite not getting consistent game time in the IPL, Ravindra insists he does not feel undercooked heading into the busy Red Ball assignment.“I haven’t played a game in a while, and obviously it’s been great running drinks in the IPL and getting opportunities to train and talk to the guys. But to be honest, I don’t really feel out of match practice. I think it was already a very busy schedule,” he said.He used the short break back in New Zealand to improve his Test preparations, including a few sessions in Christchurch as he shifted his focus from T20 franchise cricket to the demands of the longer format.“But yeah, I think being able to come home for five days or so and train a bit and prepare for what’s coming up is one of the reasons because we know Test cricket is so important, especially the series in Ireland and England. So I just wanted to give myself the best chance. I was down in Christchurch for a day and had some training sessions. I had some good grass facilities,” he added.One key benefit Ravindra took from his IPL season was access to experienced internationals, which he believes strengthened his tactical understanding ahead of Tests in English conditions.“Playing cricket and training has its perks. Being in the IPL also has its perks. I mean, you get to talk to somebody like that. Ajinkya Rahanewho is a lovely man who has played so much cricket overseas, scored a century at Lord’s and played so much cricket against England and Australia,” said the Kiwi batsman.He also highlighted the value of insights from coaches and senior professionals around him, including the former Australian all-rounder. Shane Watsonand a chance to pick the brains of top Indian players.“Coach (Abhishek Nair) was India’s assistant batting coach. You’ve got Shane Watson, our batting coach, who has played England a lot, coached a lot of guys who have played England. So it’s in a way, it’s more than just T20. Being able to sit down and talk Virat Kohli About betting or talking KL Rahul — all these people who have done well and achieved success over time,” he noted.For Ravindra, the short IPL period without regular match action also coincides with a timely reset for what he expects to be a challenging tour, especially in seaming conditions.
