Kolkata Knight Riders all-rounder Rachin Ravindra has left the Indian Premier League (IPL) to begin preparations for New Zealand’s upcoming Test tour of England, the franchise said in a squad update on the eve of its home match against Gujarat Titans.
“Rachin Ravindra has returned home to begin his red-ball preparations for New Zealand’s upcoming Test tour to England,” KKR stated on Friday.
KKR faces Gujarat Titans at Eden Gardens in Kolkata on Saturday.
Bought by KKR at his base price of Rs. 2 crore in the IPL 2026 auction, Ravindra returns home without playing a single match this season, with his new franchise preferring marquee signing Cameroon Green as its go-to all-rounder.
The 26-year-old Ravindra will now focus on red-ball training for his maiden tour to England.
The Black Caps will play a four-day warm-up game against Ireland in Belfast from May 27 before beginning the three-match Test series in England. The matches will be played at Lord’s (June 4-8), The Oval (June 17-21) and Nottingham (June 25-29).
New Zealand is currently second in the 2025-27 World Test Championship standings, with two wins and a draw.
A regular in New Zealand’s Test side, Ravindra struck an unbeaten 165 against Zimbabwe in August 2025 before scoring 176 in Christchurch and 72 not out and 46 in Mount Maunganui against West Indies in December.
Published on May 15, 2026