KL Rahul for India (Source: AFP Photos)
A star-studded India A squad, which included KL Rahul, Yashasvi Jaiswal and Devdutt Padikkal, among others, were bundled out for only 113 runs when they took the field at Bert Sutcliffe Oval, Lincoln on Saturday for the first unofficial Test against New Zealand A.
More significantly, five Indian players, which included KL Rahul, registered ducks. The others were Sai Sudharsan, Washington Sundar, Akash Deep and Mukesh Choudhary.
Yash Rathod Saves India A’s Ultimate Humiliation
Courtesy of Yash Rathod’s counter-attacking 49-ball 44, India somehow managed to cross the three-digit mark. Devdutt Padikkal also lasted 77 balls for his 32, while the rest fell like a pack of cards around them.
Among others, Yashasvi Jaiswal made 17, while Dhruv Jurel could only manage 1 off 13 balls.
New Zealand A’s Simon Keene did the most damage, taking five wickets, including the tail-enders. Zak Gibson had three wickets. Of them, two were Yashasvi Jaiswal and Devdutt Padikkal.
India A’s batting unit is almost as regular as their senior set-up. Only Shubman Gill and Rishabh Pant were missing from their lineup.
As India to play two Tests in New Zealand in the latter part of the ongoing India tour of New Zealand, they could not have had a worse possible start to kick off the preparations.
New Zealand A Keep On Dominating India A
Coming to bat, captain Rhys Mariu and Curtis Heaphy gave New Zealand A a perfect start. While India A’s innings lasted only 39.3 overs, they, at the time of typing, had already batted 19.1 overs without any damage.
The scoreboard currently reads New Zealand 57/0, trailing by 56 runs.
It's important to note that there will be three unofficial Tests between India A and New Zealand. The first will be in Lincoln, while the second and third will be held at Hagley Oval, Christchurch, and then back in Lincoln on October 31 and November 7, respectively.
Christchurch’s Hagley Oval will also have India vs New Zealand 2nd Test, to begin on November 26.
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