India A captain Dhruv Jurel finished unbeaten on 99 as the visitors recovered from a precarious 160/6 to reach 291/7 at stumps on the opening day of the second unofficial Test against New Zealand A at Hagley Oval in Christchurch on Saturday, October 31, 2026. Devdutt Padikkal's 80 and Jurel's late partnerships helped India A regain control after New Zealand A's bowlers had made significant inroads.
Early wicket, then a steady second-wicket stand
New Zealand A won the toss and elected to bowl, and Fraser Sheat made an immediate impact. Yashasvi Jaiswal was trapped leg-before for a four-ball duck in the first over, leaving India A with an early setback in the four-day contest.
Padikkal joined Sai Sudharsan and the pair rebuilt the innings with a 91-run partnership for the second wicket. Sudharsan contributed 41 from 63 deliveries, while Padikkal played the longer innings and kept the scoreboard moving through the morning session. The partnership took India A to 91 before Sudharsan was caught by Mitchell Hay off Jarrod McKay.
Padikkal continued after the breakthrough, reaching 80 from 140 balls with 12 fours. He looked set to provide the foundation for a substantial first-innings total, but Sheat bowled him to leave India A at 137/4. The dismissal opened the door for New Zealand A to press their advantage.
Sheat-led burst leaves India A at 160/6
New Zealand A struck repeatedly during the middle phase. Yash Rathod made 13 before edging Brett Randell to wicketkeeper Hay, and Padikkal's departure was followed by two more wickets from Sheat. Smaran Ravichandran was dismissed for a first-ball duck, while Washington Sundar fell for eight, both trapped leg-before.
The sequence left India A at 160/6 and threatened to undo the work done by Padikkal and Sudharsan. Sheat was the standout bowler, using the conditions to finish the day with four wickets for 50 runs from 19 overs. Randell, McKay and Jayden Lennox also claimed a wicket apiece.
Jurel takes charge of the recovery
With the innings under pressure, Jurel took responsibility for rebuilding. The wicketkeeper-batter first added 62 runs with Manav Suthar, who made 22. Their stand gave India A a platform after the collapse and ensured New Zealand A could not continue taking wickets at the same rate.
Suthar's dismissal brought Akash Deep to the crease, and the pair made sure the late session belonged to India A. Jurel and Akash put together an unbroken 69-run partnership, carrying the total beyond 290 and taking the visitors to stumps without another wicket falling. Akash was unbeaten on 25 when play ended.
Jurel's 99 came from 155 deliveries and included 11 fours and three sixes. He ended the day just one run short of a century, with the opportunity to reach three figures when play resumes. His innings combined patience with scoring options, and his ability to bat with the lower order changed the outlook of India's first innings.
Context from the first unofficial Test
The teams entered the second match after the opening unofficial Test of the series ended in a draw. India A had been bowled out for 113 in their first innings in that game but responded with 516 in the second, putting New Zealand A under pressure before the hosts held on at 187/9. The result showed the visitors' capacity to recover after a difficult start, a pattern that resurfaced on the first day in Christchurch.
For New Zealand A, the challenge on the next day will be to break the Jurel-Akash partnership quickly and prevent India A from moving towards a much larger total. Sheat's four-wicket effort has kept the hosts in the contest, but the late stand means the innings is not yet wrapped up.
The SportsLine angle
India A matches are important opportunities for players to make a case for higher honours, and the Christchurch innings gave several batters a chance to show different aspects of their game. Padikkal demonstrated his ability to build an innings at the top, while Jurel's response under pressure highlighted the value of a wicketkeeper-batter who can manage a lower-order recovery.
The immediate focus is Jurel's century bid and the length of India's first innings. The second unofficial Test is scheduled as a four-day fixture at Hagley Oval, and the opening-day recovery has left the contest open. For India's developing players, the next innings will offer another test of patience and discipline against a New Zealand A attack that found movement and regular breakthroughs on Saturday.
Frequently asked questions
What was India A's score against New Zealand A at the end of Day 1?
India A finished the opening day of the second unofficial Test at 291 for seven from 88 overs at Hagley Oval in Christchurch on October 31, 2026. The visitors recovered after slipping to 160 for six, with captain Dhruv Jurel unbeaten on 99 and Akash Deep on 25.
How many runs did Dhruv Jurel score on Day 1?
India A captain Dhruv Jurel was unbeaten on 99 from 155 balls at stumps. His innings included 11 fours and three sixes. He helped rebuild the innings with a 62-run partnership with Manav Suthar and an unbroken 69-run stand with Akash Deep.
How did Devdutt Padikkal perform against New Zealand A?
Devdutt Padikkal scored 80 from 140 balls, hitting 12 fours. He shared a 91-run second-wicket partnership with Sai Sudharsan, who made 41 from 63 deliveries. Padikkal's dismissal was part of a difficult middle period for India A.
Who was New Zealand A's leading bowler on the first day?
Left-arm seamer Fraser Sheat led the New Zealand A attack with figures of four for 50 from 19 overs. He dismissed Yashasvi Jaiswal for a duck in the first over and later removed Padikkal, Smaran Ravichandran and Washington Sundar.
When and where is the second unofficial Test being played?
The second unofficial Test between India A and New Zealand A began on October 31, 2026, at Hagley Oval in Christchurch, New Zealand. It is a four-day match in the India A tour of New Zealand, with the opening day's play ending with India A at 291 for seven.