NZ vs SA: Rachin Ravindra Equals Sourav Ganguly’s 25-Year-Old Record With A Century Against South Africa in Champions Trophy Semi-Final
Rachin Ravindra smashed twin hundreds in the Champions Trophy 2025, matching Sourav Ganguly’s rare feat from the 2000 edition.
New Zealand’s young batting sensation Rachin Ravindra once again proved his class with a stunning century against South Africa in the Champions Trophy 2025 semi-final in Lahore on March 5. The left-hander smashed his fifth ODI hundred, continuing his impressive record in ICC tournaments.
Rachin Ravindra Joins an Elite List
Rachin reached his hundred in just 93 balls, helping New Zealand cross 190 in the 32nd over. With this knock, he became the eighth batter in history to score more than one hundred in a single edition of the Champions Trophy. He now finds himself in an elite group alongside legends like Chris Gayle, Sourav Ganguly, Saeed Anwar, and Shikhar Dhawan.
Sourav Ganguly had hit twin centuries for India in the 2000 ICC Knockout tournament, while Shikhar Dhawan had achieved the feat in the 2013 Champions Trophy. Rachin had earlier scored his first century of the tournament against Bangladesh in February.
First Kiwi to Achieve the Feat
Rachin has now become the first New Zealand batter to score more than one hundred in a single Champions Trophy edition. His ability to perform on the big stage was already evident in the 2023 ODI World Cup, where he smashed four centuries in his debut tournament.
At just 24, Rachin holds the record for most ODI hundreds for New Zealand in ICC tournaments. With five centuries, he has gone past legends like Kane Williamson and Nathan Astle, who have three each.
Most Hundreds in a Single Champions Trophy Edition
- Chris Gayle – 3 (2006)
- Sourav Ganguly – 2 (2000)
- Saeed Anwar – 2 (2000)
- Herschelle Gibbs – 2 (2002)
- Upul Tharanga – 2 (2006)
- Shane Watson – 2 (2009)
- Shikhar Dhawan – 2 (2013)
- Rachin Ravindra – 2 (2025)
Dominating the Proteas Attack
Rachin was at his best against the South African pacers, making full use of the batting-friendly conditions at Gaddafi Stadium. He played fearlessly against the likes of Kagiso Rabada and Marco Jansen, handling the extra bounce with confidence. Lungi Ngidi’s pace variations tested him at times, but he remained composed and continued to find the boundaries.
Rachin was eventually dismissed for 108 off 101 balls in the 34th over, falling to Rabada after a brilliant 164-run partnership with Kane Williamson. The disappointment was clear on his face, as he had set himself up for an even bigger score with 16 overs still left in the innings.
