India A and New Zealand A finish three-match unofficial Test series with all games drawn

The three-match unofficial Test series between India A and New Zealand A ended without a result in Lincoln on Tuesday, the third and final match finishing as a draw after rain washed out the fourth day. The third day's play in Lincoln had also been abandoned without a ball being bowled, leaving the series with all three games drawn.

India A declared their first innings in the final game at 464 for five, with Yashasvi Jaiswal scoring a century; New Zealand A were 36 for two when play was interrupted. The series was arranged as red-ball preparation ahead of the senior team's first Test against New Zealand, scheduled to begin on November 19 in Wellington, and several players in the A squad are in contention for places in the senior team. Jasprit Bumrah and Ravindra Jadeja were included in the final unofficial Test to get match time after breaks from competitive cricket, but rain disrupted the final two games and restricted their involvement.

Jaiswal finished the series with 279 runs from five innings at an average of 69.75, his 102 in the final match his second century of the series. The India A opener’s run tally and the century in Lincoln were described in the series report as underlining his red-ball form ahead of the New Zealand Tests.

Devdutt Padikkal produced the standout innings of the series with 199 in the opening unofficial Test, while Sai Sudharsan made two half-centuries—91 in the first game and 88 in the final. Dhruv Jurel compiled a century earlier in the series and followed it with 71 in the third match; with Rishabh Pant still recovering from a side strain, Jurel’s form was flagged as potentially important for India’s wicketkeeping options.

Tilak Varma, who is not part of the senior Test squad, remained unbeaten on 81 in the final game. Akash Deep returned to action after a lengthy injury lay-off, and Prasidh Krishna, having recovered from a hamstring injury, bowled in the final match and took both New Zealand A wickets to fall.

The lack of match practice for Bumrah and Jadeja was noted as the biggest disappointment for India from the series. Bumrah, who last featured in the Asian Games final against Pakistan on October 3, bowled only six overs in Lincoln, conceding 11 runs without taking a wicket; he had been rested for the white-ball leg of the New Zealand tour. Jadeja faced 71 deliveries for his 25 and spent around an hour and 20 minutes at the crease but did not bowl because India A managed only 14 overs in the match; he had joined the squad after playing two Ranji Trophy matches for Saurashtra.

Bumrah and Jadeja will travel to Wellington with the rest of the Indian contingent, where the team is scheduled to hold six training sessions before the opening Test, weather permitting. Bumrah, Jadeja, Jaiswal, Padikkal, Sudharsan, Washington Sundar and Akash Deep are among the players expected to join the senior squad.