Live updates of the opening day of the one-off test between the Black Caps and Ireland at Stormont Cricket Ground.It might hit him in the pocket, but Rachin Ravindra’s decision to leave the Indian Premier League early is exactly what the Black Caps need before the forthcoming tests against Ireland and England.Ravindra, 26, was picked up by Indian Premier League (IPL) side Kolkata Knight Riders at the end of 2025 on a deal worth $380,000.But with IPL sides limited to four overseas players in the same XI, Ravindra spent the 2026 season warming the bench, as international places were taken up by Black Caps teammates Finn Allen and Tim Seifert, Australian Cameron Green and West Indian Rovman Powell, among others.As a result, Ravindra called time on his IPL stint early and left Kolkata to return to New Zealand for a short break before joining the Black Caps at Lincoln in preparation for the tests that start this month. Because IPL contracts are only paid out in full if players are injured, Ravindra will take a financial hit from his decision to leave early.However, having effectively played non-stop since the middle of last year, a short spell at home was music to his ears. “First of all, I want to say that [Kolkata] were very welcoming and understanding of the situation,” Ravindra said. “I wasn’t playing, I spoke to the CEO and the coach to come home for a refresh. I wouldn’t be home until late August [otherwise], because of what’s to come.“It was really awesome of them to be able to say go home, refresh and do a bit of training before joining the boys in Ireland. There was always going to be an overlap; it made it easier that I wasn’t playing.“We spend so much time away from home. Even four or five days at home, which I’ve had, is fantastic.”Rachin Ravindra has had a short break from cricket before joining the Black Caps at Lincoln in preparation for this month’s tests. Photo / PhotosportWhile short, that time at home could be crucial for the Black Caps. The trip to Ireland and England marks the start of a huge 12 months for New Zealand, who will play 14 test matches across six different series.Ravindra’s cause, though, has been slightly hindered. The IPL bench stint means he hasn’t played a competitive match since the T20 World Cup final at the start of March.And when taking into account the surplus of T20s, for club and country, he hasn’t played a red-ball game since the end of December.However, switching between formats is nothing new for players and Ravindra is far from the only Black Cap who’ll arrive in Ireland without any red-ball match practice. Instead, as the Black Caps prepare to leave for the Northern Hemisphere, Ravindra is able to look at the next 12 months as the biggest of his career to date. “I haven’t played a game in a little while,” he said. “But, to be honest, I don’t feel too out of match practice, it was a very hectic schedule beforehand.“We know test cricket is super important, especially for a series in Ireland and England. I just wanted to give myself the best chance. “As a New Zealand Cricket fan – not even as a player – this is the most exciting year of test cricket we’ve ever had. Black Caps captain Tom Latham and Rachin Ravindra will hope to have more celebrations together during a busy 12-month schedule for the side. Photo / Photosport“It couldn’t be any better, I hope the buzz around the country is the same.”That’s not to say his time in the IPL wasn’t valuable.Even if he didn’t play, Ravindra has still been able to train in world-class facilities. In 2024, Ravindra prepared for the Black Caps’ 3-0 test series victory over India at the academy of his former IPL side, the Chennai Super Kings.That translated to success on-field, with an innings of 134 in New Zealand’s eight-wicket win in Bengaluru, for which he was awarded man of the match.Most importantly, Ravindra’s time in India has also seen him rub shoulders with some of the best players on the planet, and he will take those lessons with him to England and Australia later this year. “You get to talk to someone like Ajinkya Rahane, who’s a lovely man,” he said. “He’s played so much cricket overseas, scored a hundred at Lord’s, played so much against England and Australia away. You get to pick his brains. Rachin Ravindra has been picking the brains of some of the best players on the planet. Photo / Photosport“The coach [Abishek Nayar] used to be batting coach for India, so you talk to him a little bit.“We had Shane Watson as our batting coach, he’s played England a lot. It’s more than just T20, it’s helping you for the future. “The cool thing is you get to come up against legends every other day. Being able to sit down and talk to Virat [Kohli] about batting, or talk to KL Rahul – all these guys who’ve done well and had success over periods of time.“That’s probably the biggest learning for me.”Alex Powell is a sports journalist for the NZ Herald. He has been a sports journalist since 2016.