Rain Ends India A Test in Lincoln as Batting Rivals Make Their Case

Lincoln: The third unofficial Test between New Zealand A and India A ended without a result on Tuesday, with rain preventing a single delivery on the fourth day and returning to force an early call-off at 1pm local time. The third day had also been lost entirely to the weather, leaving the series drawn 0-0.

For India, the value of the contest lay less in the result than in the game time it provided to players who will feature in the two-Test series against New Zealand beginning November 19. On that front, the match offered several answers, and at least one unresolved question.

The No. 3 Contest

Devdutt Padikkal, the incumbent at No. 3, and B Sai Sudharsan, his challenger, finished among the top three run-scorers of the series. Padikkal’s 199 in the first game served as his statement innings. Sudharsan responded with two fifties, a fighting 91 in the first match and an 88 in India A’s only innings in the third, an innings in which India A declared on 464 for 5.

Yashasvi Jaiswal continued his prolific red-ball form with 102 in the third game, his second century of the series. He compiled 279 runs across five innings at an average of 69.75.

Dhruv Jurel, who had already scored a century earlier in the series, added 71 in this match. He appears likely to find a place in the India XI on November 19, particularly with Rishabh Pant’s availability still uncertain as he recovers from a side strain.

Tilak Varma, yet to make his Test debut and not part of India’s squad for this tour, offered a reminder of his red-ball credentials with an unbeaten 81 before the declaration.

Bowling Concerns and a Fleeting Workout

India fielded Jasprit Bumrah, Ravindra Jadeja and Prasidh Krishna in the third game in the hope of giving them time in the middle before the Test series. The returns were limited. The two fast bowlers sent down only 11 overs combined, and Jadeja did not bowl at all.

Bumrah, rested for the white-ball series against West Indies and New Zealand, looked on target without claiming a wicket. Prasidh took both New Zealand A wickets to fall in a short spell on the second day, playing for the first time since recovering from the hamstring injury he sustained during the second ODI against West Indies in September. Jadeja had flown to New Zealand after playing two games for Saurashtra in the Ranji Trophy.

New Zealand’s Preparations

New Zealand are yet to name their Test squad. Tom Latham, Daryl Mitchell, Henry Nicholls, Glenn Phillips and Nathan Smith will leave their one-day squad ahead of the fifth ODI to prepare for the series.

Dean Foxcroft was New Zealand A’s best batter across the three matches, scoring 196 runs in four innings at an average of 65.33, with a best of 93 in Christchurch. His solitary Test appearance came against Ireland in May 2026. Among the bowlers, the uncapped Zak Gibson topped the series wicket-taking table with eight.

Brief scores: India A 464 for 5 dec (Jaiswal 102, Sai Sudharsan 88, Tilak Varma 81, Jurel 71, Washington 50*; Gibson 2-73) drew with New Zealand A 36 for 2 (Prasidh 2-12).

                                               

Relevant news