Bumrah, Jadeja, Prasidh Headline India A’s Final NZ Test

Jasprit Bumrah, Ravindra Jadeja and Prasidh Krishna will be among the key players in action as India A take on New Zealand A in the third and final four-day match of their tour, beginning Saturday in Lincoln. The game offers the trio valuable match practice ahead of India’s upcoming two-Test series, with the opening Test scheduled to begin in Wellington on November 19.

Bumrah and Prasidh Prepare For Test Challenge

Bumrah has been reserved for the red-ball leg of the New Zealand tour as part of his workload management. The fast bowler, whose last appearance came in the Asian Games final on October 3, was not included in India’s ongoing five-match ODI series.

With the Test series approaching, the India pace spearhead will look to make the most of his time in the middle against New Zealand A.

Prasidh Krishna will also be looking to build rhythm after recovering from a hamstring injury. His last appearance was in the ODI against the West Indies in Guwahati on September 30, and he has been kept fresh for the upcoming Test assignments.

Jadeja, meanwhile, arrives in New Zealand after featuring in two Ranji Trophy matches for Saurashtra. The experienced all-rounder picked up seven wickets and scored a century during those games. Having lost his place in the ODI side, he will be keen to carry that form into the four-day contest and make an impact with both bat and ball.

India A Look To Finish Tour Strongly

The first two matches of the series ended in draws, with Devdutt Padikkal and Dhruv Jurel among the leading run-scorers for India A. Yashasvi Jaiswal also showed signs of returning to form with an unbeaten 155 in the previous match at Hagley Oval.

All-rounder Nitish Reddy, released from the ODI squad after the opening match, is also expected to get an opportunity in the red-ball game.

The pitches became increasingly favourable for batting in the first two matches. However, India A could face a tougher challenge if they bat first in Lincoln, where conditions on the opening day may assist the bowlers. In the series opener, India A were dismissed for 113 in their first innings before recovering to score 516 in the second.

New Zealand A, meanwhile, will be without two of their in-form fast bowlers. Simon Keene has suffered a grade-two tear in his left hamstring, while Fraser Sheat sustained a left-side injury during the previous matches.

India A Squad: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sai Sudharsan, Devdutt Padikkal, Yash Rathod, R. Smaran, Dhruv Jurel (C/WK), Washington Sundar, Akash Deep, Shikhar Mohan, Mukesh Choudhary, Mukesh Kumar, Manav Suthar, Kumar Kushagra (WK), Tilak Varma, Jasprit Bumrah, Prasidh Krishna and Ravindra Jadeja.

New Zealand A Squad: Adi Ashok, Matt Boyle, Max Chu (WK), Danru Ferns, Dean Foxcroft, Zak Gibson, Curtis Heaphy, Rhys Mariu, Jarrod McKay, Cam Paul, Dale Phillips, Brett Randell and Tim Robinson.