![KL Rahul and Devdutt Padikkal batting together [Source: @BCCI/X]](https://onecricketnews.akamaized.net/parth-editor/oc-dashboard/news-images-prod/1794295922125_IndiaAteambatting.jpg?type=hq)
KL Rahul and Devdutt Padikkal batting together [Source: @BCCI/X]
The stakes have been set for the all-important India vs New Zealand Test series, with teams ready to clash from November 19 for the two-match series. Interestingly, India have a horde of players who have already featured and performed on Kiwi soil with the New Zealand A Test series tour.
Although all three unofficial Tests ended in a draw, the players left their mark and will be ready to take on the real challenge in the Test encounter after a week. Ahead of the first game, let’s take a look at how prepared the Indian players are by rating their India A performances.
1. Yashasvi Jaiswal – 9/10
Yashasvi Jaiswal was among India's most impressive performers, finishing the series with 279 runs from five innings at an average of 69.75. He registered two centuries, including an unbeaten 155 in the second unofficial Test.
He followed that effort with another impressive 102 in the third Test. Moreover, Jaiswal's consistency at the top makes him one of the biggest positives from the tour, as he looks well-prepared for the challenges ahead.
2. Dhruv Jurel – 8/10
Dhruv Jurel finished the series with 179 runs from four innings at an average of 44.75, including a century and a half-century. His unbeaten 105 in the second innings of the second unofficial Test was particularly important, as he helped India A build a substantial first-innings total of 346.
Jurel's consistency with the bat, combined with his wicketkeeping responsibilities, makes him a valuable option for India, and his tour was a successful one if seen with both his values as a player.
3. Devdutt Padikkal – 9.5/10
Devdutt Padikkal was India's highest run-scorer on the tour, accumulating 326 runs from five innings at an excellent average of 65.20. In the first unofficial Test, he produced a magnificent 199 off 248 deliveries to help India recover from their disastrous first innings.
Significantly enough, Padikkal made the strongest batting statement among the India A players, although converting his performances into a place in the senior playing XI will depend on India's final combination.
4. KL Rahul – 5/10
KL Rahul had a disappointing outing in the first unofficial Test, managing just four runs across two innings. He was dismissed for a duck in India's first innings before falling for four in the second, struggling to make an impression against the New Zealand A bowling attack.
His participation was limited to just one match. Now, although, Rahul's experience remains important for India, his performances on this particular tour offered little encouragement from a batting perspective.
5. Sai Sudharsan – 7.5/10
Sai Sudharsan accumulated 231 runs across five innings at an average of 46.20, making useful contributions throughout the series. His most significant effort came in the first unofficial Test, where he scored 91 off 184 deliveries and shared a crucial partnership with Devdutt Padikkal after India's early collapse.
Sudharsan demonstrated patience and the ability to build long innings, although missing out on a century in his biggest contributions will leave him wanting more.
6. Ravindra Jadeja – 6.5/10
Ravindra Jadeja featured in only the third unofficial Test, scoring 25 runs from 71 deliveries in his sole batting opportunity. He arrived after India's top order had established a strong platform and was eventually dismissed by Zak Gibson.
The left-arm all-rounder did not get an opportunity to bowl, though. To be fair, Jadeja's involvement was too limited to draw meaningful conclusions, but he utilised the valuable time in the middle ahead of the Test series with the bat, which makes him credible with the prep.
7. Anshul Kamboj – 8/10
Anshul Kamboj played only the first unofficial Test but made a decent contribution with both bat and ball. He picked up four wickets across two innings at an average of 25.75, including a three-wicket haul in New Zealand A's first innings. He also contributed 33 runs with the bat.
Moreover, Kamboj showed encouraging signs as a bowling all-rounder, and his ability to contribute in both departments makes his performance a positive takeaway.
8. Washington Sundar – 8/10
Washington Sundar finished the series with 110 runs and three wickets across three matches. His most valuable batting contribution came in the first unofficial Test, where he scored 52 in India's second innings after the top order had done the bulk of the recovery work.
He followed it with scores of eight and an unbeaten 50 in the next two appearances, while also maintaining an economical bowling record of 2.72 runs per over.
Sundar was reasonably consistent and offered India useful balance, although his bowling returns could have been stronger considering the number of overs he delivered.
9. Akash Deep – 7.5/10
Akash Deep had an encouraging series with the bat, accumulating 93 runs from three innings at an average of 46.50. His biggest contribution was a fighting 68 in the first innings of the second unofficial Test, helping India reach 346 after coming in with the team needing lower-order resistance.
As a primary pacer, with the ball, he picked up three wickets across two matches, maintaining an impressive economy rate of 2.41 despite bowling 58.3 overs.
Even though Akash Deep demonstrated that he can contribute beyond his primary role as a fast bowler, his wicket-taking returns could have been better.
10. Mohammed Siraj – 8.5/10
Mohammed Siraj featured in only the second unofficial Test, where he picked up four wickets in New Zealand A's first innings. He bowled 35 overs, conceding 118 runs at an average of 29.50, and claimed the important wickets of Rhys Mariu, Matthew Boyle, Dean Foxcroft and Brett Randell.
Siraj's four-wicket haul was a useful outing in the broader sense, and it will help the pacer get settled for what’s about to come in the official Tests.
11. Prasidh Krishna – 7.5/10
Prasidh Krishna's involvement was restricted to the third unofficial Test, where he made an immediate impact with the ball. He picked up two wickets in New Zealand A's first innings, dismissing Rhys Mariu and Curtis Heaphy to leave the hosts struggling at 26/2.
He bowled five overs, conceding just 12 runs at an economy rate of 2.40, but did not get an opportunity to bat.
Moreover, Prasidh made good use of his limited opportunity, and his early breakthroughs were encouraging, which marks him as a primary attack for India in the 1st Test against New Zealand.
