Jasprit Bumrah, Ravindra Jadeja get little playing time as third India A vs New Zealand Unofficial Test ends in a draw

Yashasvi Jaiswal celebrates after reaching his second century in the series. (Image credit: X) 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 away due to rain.Even the third day of the match was lost to Monday’s rain. All three games in the series ended in draws, with neither team able to claim the honours.

Jaiswal shines with another hundred

India A 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 for no 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 the break.Bumrah last played on October 3 in the final of the Asian Games against Pakistan in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan. He was rested for the white-ball part of New Zealand’s tour to be fresh for the two-Test series starting in Wellington on November 19.However, Bumrah only got to six overs in the match and gave away 11 runs. He would have liked to bowl a few spells and get into a rhythm ahead of the Test series, but the rain did not allow him to do so.Jadeja, who is expected to play a key role with the bat in overseas conditions, has been given 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 try to make the most of the six scheduled training sessions ahead of the first test, weather permitting.Among the biggest positives for India were two back-to-back centuries from Jaiswal A. Padikkal also impressed with 199 runs in the first unofficial Test. His performance strengthened his case for the No.3 spot ahead of Sudharsan, who also scored several half-centuries in the series.Another positive was Akash Deep’s return to action after a long layoff due to injury. 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.