India opener Yashasvi Jaiswal’s struggles continued as he suffered another failure on the opening day of the second unofficial Test against New Zealand A at Hagley Oval in Christchurch on Saturday.
The left-handed batter has now endured three consecutive disappointing innings on the tour, raising concerns about his form ahead of India’s upcoming two-match Test series against New Zealand. Jaiswal, who is expected to partner KL Rahul at the top of India’s Test batting order, has been unable to make the most of the opportunities provided during the preparatory matches.
Jaiswal had managed just 22 runs across two innings in the first unofficial Test, scoring 17 in the first innings and five in the second. His difficulties continued in Christchurch, where he was dismissed by Fraser Sheat in the opening over after being trapped in front of the stumps. The latest failure has increased the pressure on the opener to rediscover his rhythm before the international series, particularly after he struggled to convert his time at the crease into substantial scores during the tour.
India A’s batting problems extended beyond Jaiswal, as New Zealand A’s seamers exploited the conditions to put the visitors under pressure during the opening exchanges. The hosts struck four times in the first hour, with Sheat leading the attack. Sai Sudharsan, who had joined Devdutt Padikkal in a promising opening partnership, departed after playing at a delivery outside off stump from Jarrod McKay and being caught behind. Yash Rathod also fell while attempting a shot outside off stump, leaving India A struggling to establish a solid foundation.
Padikkal provided some resistance with a knock of 80 runs but was eventually dismissed after attempting to cut a delivery that was not sufficiently wide, chopping the ball onto his stumps. Smaran Ravichandran’s dismissal added to the visitors’ difficulties, as he was trapped leg-before-wicket for a golden duck after leaving an incoming delivery that moved back into him. Sheat claimed three of the early wickets as New Zealand A maintained control over the contest.
With wickets falling regularly, Dhruv Jurel and Washington Sundar attempted to stabilise the innings. The pair adopted a cautious approach, concentrating on defending against the New Zealand A seamers rather than taking unnecessary risks. They added 23 runs from 87 deliveries, offering India A some resistance after the early collapse, although the team remained under pressure to rebuild its innings.
For Jaiswal, the second unofficial Test represents another missed opportunity to regain confidence before the Test series against New Zealand. His recent scores have made his form a concern, while India A’s early batting collapse has highlighted the difficulties faced by the visiting batters against the hosts’ seam attack. The remaining opportunities on the tour will be important for the opener as he attempts to find consistency ahead of the international assignment.