Another duck for Jaiswal raises concern but Jurel stars with unbeaten 99 after Padikkal's 80 on Day 1

India’s opening pair continues to be a concern ahead of the two-Test series against New Zealand. KL Rahul will shift his focus to ODIs after disappointing outings in Lincoln. Meanwhile, Yashasvi Jaiswal is yet to find his groove. Jaiswal registered his fourth duck in nine innings in the ongoing second unofficial Test between India A and New Zealand A. In-form Devdutt Padikkal impressed again and scored 80 runs, whereas skipper Dhruv Jurel gained some confidence in Kiwi conditions with an unbeaten 99 to help India A post 291/7 on the board.

After Jaiswal’s duck, Padikkal and Sudharsan bat out 1st session

On October 31, New Zealand A skipper Rhys Mariu won the toss and opted to bowl first. Jaiswal missed the line from Fraser Sheat, and he was given out lbw for a four-ball duck. Sai Sudharsan walked out to bat early on in the innings. Padikkal was not as attacking as the previous game. He was batting on just five runs from 38 balls after the 11th over, while Sudharsan scored at a good rate. India A were 87/1 after the first session. Padikkal made up for the slow start and was batting on 49 off 97 balls. On the other end, Sudharsan was batting on 38 runs from 55 balls.

Padikkal scores fifty, India A lose 4 wickets in 2nd session

In the second over of the second session, Jarrod McKay broke the partnership. Sudharsan poked at a back-of-a-length delivery without footwork, and all he could manage was an outside edge. He departed for a 63-ball 41. In McKay's next over, Padikkal reached his half-century with a boundary from 101 balls. This is his first-class career's 24th half-century. Yash Rathod could not get going, and he was caught behind off Brett Randell's delivery, the replacement for Matthew Fisher.

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In the next over, Sheat struck twice to dismiss Padikkal and Smaran Ravichandran. Padikaal got out to a short delivery, dragging it back to his stumps. He departed after scoring 80 runs from 140 balls, featuring 12 boundaries. Ravichandran was dismissed for a golden duck. He shouldered arms at a delivery and was trapped in front of the wickets. India A lost half the side for 137 in the 39th over.

Sundar departs early

Jurel and Washington Sundar were tasked with preventing India A from suffering a batting collapse. At the end of the second session, India A were 160/5. But right after the tea break, Fraser Sheat got rid of Sundar, getting him out lbw with a full and straight delivery. Sundar fell after scoring eight runs from 40 balls.

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Jurel bats with lower order

Jurel and Manav Suthar went into defensive mode. Later into the third session, Jurel accelerated. In the 67th over of the day, he reached his half-century off 92 deliveries. Suthar did the hard work and then threw his wicket away. In the 70th over, he got caught behind against left-arm spinner Jayden Lennox. Suthar scored 22 runs from 46 deliveries. Akash Deep arrived at the crease and hit a boundary off the third ball he faced.

Jurel was not afraid to take the aerial route. He smashed Lennox for a massive six over mid-wicket. In the 75th over, he was hit on the helmet by McKay. He responded with a four and a six off the following deliveries. Deep could curb his instinct to hit an attacking shot for 18 deliveries. He whacked Lennox for a six over long-on in the 78th over. Jurel hit another six before the second new ball was available. 

Jurel was cautious against the second new ball while Deep hit two boundaries. India A were 291/7 at the end of Day 1's play. The partnership for the eighth wicket between Jurel and Deep is 69 runs. Jurel is unbeaten on 99 from 155 balls. His knock is laced with 11 fours and three sixes. On the other end, Deep was unbeaten on 25 off 58 balls.

What will be India A’s approach on Day 2?

Early into Day 2’s play, there is likely to be help for seamers from conditions and the eight-over-old second new ball. Jurel may take the attacking approach after reaching his eighth first-class ton. His knock is a good sign for India, especially after scores of 1 and 2 in the four-day series opener.

India A would look to get past the 350-run mark. After Deep, Mohammed Siraj and Mukesh Kumar are capable of hitting the long ball. Then, Indian pacers can have a crack at Kiwi batters. It will be much-needed game time for Siraj alongside Deep, as both of them are part of the Test squad. Also, Suthar will have a chance to cement his place in the side for the Test opener if he does well. For the Wellington Test, there might be a toss-up between Sundar and Suthar. Suthar had done well in Sundar's absence on the Sri Lanka tour. 

Does India have options if opening woes continue?

Irrespective of how the rest of the series goes between India A and New Zealand A, Jaiswal and Rahul are likely to open in the Wellington Test which begins on November 19. However, India have a backup ready in the form of Sudharsan. Padikkal has made the no.3 spot his own in the Test side. Sudharsan has opened in red-ball cricket of late and can take the role if the need arises during the Test series. He had opened for India A in the series against Sri Lanka A and Australia A.

India A vs New Zealand A 2nd unofficial Test playing XIs -

India A: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sai Sudharsan, Devdutt Padikkal, Yash Rathod, Dhruv Jurel(c & wk), Smaran Ravichandran, Washington Sundar, Manav Suthar, Akash Deep, Mohammed Siraj, Mukesh Kumar.

New Zealand A: Rhys Mariu (c), Curtis Heaphy, Tim Robinson, Matthew Boyle, Dean Foxcroft, Mitchell Hay (wk), Kristian Clarke, Brett Randell, Fraser Sheat, Jayden Lennox, Jarrod McKay.