Jasprit Bumrah and Ravindra Jadeja did not get the match practice they were hoping for as the third unofficial Test between India A and New Zealand A ended in a draw on Tuesday. The fourth and final day was washed out due to rain.The third day of the match was also lost to rain on Monday. All three matches in the series ended in draws, with neither team able to take the honours.
Jaiswal shines with another hundred
India A had scored 464 for 5, with Yashasvi Jaiswal hitting his second century of the series. Sai Sudharsan, Dhruv Jurel, Tilak Varma and Washington Sundar also scored half-centuries.New Zealand A were 36 without loss at the end of the second day’s play.The match was important for India as Bumrah and Jadeja were expected to get some game time after a break.Bumrah last played on October 3, in the Asian Games final against Pakistan in Japan’s Aichi-Nagoya. He was rested for the white-ball leg of the New Zealand tour to keep him fresh for the two-Test series, which begins in Wellington on November 19.However, Bumrah got to bowl only six overs in the match and gave away 11 runs. He would have wanted to bowl a few spells and get into rhythm ahead of the Test series, but rain did not allow that.Jadeja, who is expected to play a key role with the bat in overseas conditions, got some time in the middle. He faced 71 balls and scored 25 runs during his stay of one hour and 20 minutes.However, he did not get a chance to bowl as India A bowled only 14 overs in the match.
India players head to Wellington
Bumrah, Jadeja, Jaiswal, Devdutt Padikkal, Sudharsan, Washington and Akash Deep will now travel to Wellington. The senior team will look to make the most of six planned training sessions ahead of the first Test, weather permitting.Jaiswal’s two back-to-back centuries were among the biggest positives for India A. Padikkal also impressed with 199 runs in the first unofficial Test. His performance has strengthened his case for the No. 3 spot ahead of Sudharsan, who also scored a few half-centuries in the series.Akash Deep’s return to action after a long injury break was another positive. It remains to be seen whether head coach Gautam Gambhir and captain Shubman Gill will pick him as the fourth specialist fast bowler, alongside Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna.Akash Deep can also contribute with the bat, which could work in his favour.
