Yashasvi Jaiswal the next Rishabh Pant? Fresh duck raises questions over India future

Yashasvi Jaiswal’s Batting Struggles Continue in India A’s Christchurch Test

Yashasvi Jaiswal’s difficult run in red-ball cricket continued on Saturday, October 31, as the India opener was dismissed for a four-ball duck in the second unofficial Test against New Zealand A at Hagley Oval in Christchurch. The early setback added to a sequence of low scores on India A’s tour and renewed attention on his form ahead of India’s upcoming Test series in New Zealand.

New Zealand A chose to bowl first, and seamer Fraser Sheat made an immediate impact. Jaiswal was trapped lbw in the opening over, leaving India A to rebuild almost as soon as their innings had begun. The dismissal was brief, but its timing made it significant: Jaiswal has now gone three consecutive innings without a substantial score on the tour, while his recent record in longer-format cricket has become a talking point among supporters and analysts.

A Challenging Run Before the New Zealand Test Series

Jaiswal’s latest result extends a broader spell of inconsistency in red-ball cricket. He has not scored a half-century in the format since August, and his first unofficial Test against New Zealand A produced scores of 17 and 5. In the second innings of that match, a Zak Gibson bouncer brushed his gloves before he was caught at slip.

The difficult stretch also includes a 13-ball duck for Mumbai against Chandigarh in the opening match of the Ranji Trophy season earlier this month. Since India’s tour of Sri Lanka, Jaiswal has recorded four ducks in his last nine innings, including a second-innings dismissal in the first Test in Galle and a duck in a practice match against the Sri Lanka Cricket XI. He scored 77 runs across three innings in the drawn Test series.

Those figures do not erase Jaiswal’s record as an attacking, high-impact batter, but they underline why his preparation is being closely watched. India’s two-match Test series against New Zealand is scheduled to begin at the Basin Reserve in Wellington on November 19. The Christchurch fixture gives the young opener valuable time in local conditions, where seam movement and disciplined lines can test a batter’s balance and decision-making.

Why the Conditions Matter

Hagley Oval is known for offering assistance to seam bowlers, particularly when the ball is new. For visiting batters, the challenge is often to leave well outside off stump, play close to the body and avoid committing too early to drives or cuts. Jaiswal’s early dismissal came before he had time to settle, but the broader challenge for India’s top order is to adapt to New Zealand’s conditions before the Test series begins.

Jaiswal was included in India’s ODI squad for the West Indies series but did not play in any of the three matches. He has not been selected for the upcoming five-match ODI series against New Zealand, which begins in Auckland on November 4, leaving the India A matches as an important opportunity to spend time at the crease in New Zealand.

Padikkal and Sudharsan Provide India A with a Platform

After Jaiswal’s departure, Devdutt Padikkal and Sai Sudharsan steadied the innings with a second-wicket partnership of 91 runs. Sudharsan made 41 before chasing a delivery outside off stump from Jarrod McKay and edging it behind to the wicketkeeper.

Padikkal continued his strong form after scoring 199 in the second innings of the first unofficial Test in Lincoln. Batting at No. 3, the Karnataka left-hander made 80 from 140 deliveries, striking 12 boundaries. His innings offered India A much-needed composure and showed his ability to build a substantial score against a testing attack.

Padikkal looked capable of reaching another century before he chopped a delivery onto his stumps while attempting a cut. His dismissal was part of a rapid middle-order slide. Yash Rathod, who had been India A’s leading scorer in the first unofficial Test, made 13 from 22 balls before falling while attempting an expansive shot outside off stump. Smaran Ravichandran followed for a golden duck, trapped lbw by an incoming delivery.

Sheat Leads New Zealand A’s Bowling Effort

Fraser Sheat was the standout bowler for the hosts, taking three wickets as New Zealand A made effective use of the movement available in Christchurch. His early strike against Jaiswal set the tone, while India A’s other top-order batters also struggled when drawn into playing at deliveries outside off stump.

The pattern offered a clear lesson for the visitors: New Zealand A were able to build pressure by maintaining a disciplined line and waiting for batters to make the first move. For India A, the challenge was not simply to score quickly, but to judge which deliveries could be safely left and which offered a genuine scoring opportunity.

Jurel and Washington Focus on Rebuilding

With India A reduced to 137 for 5, captain Dhruv Jurel and Washington Sundar took a measured approach. The pair added 23 runs from 87 deliveries, prioritising survival and attempting to halt the loss of wickets. Their partnership was a contrast to the attacking shots that had brought about several earlier dismissals.

India A made three changes to their XI for the second unofficial Test, bringing in Mohammed Siraj, Manav Suthar and Mukesh Kumar. KL Rahul and Anshul Kamboj were unavailable because of their involvement in preparations for the upcoming ODI series.

What Jaiswal’s Form Means for India

One innings does not determine a player’s readiness, and Jaiswal has previously demonstrated the ability to respond strongly after setbacks. Still, his current run makes the remaining opportunities on the tour important. A solid innings could help restore confidence and provide useful preparation before India face a New Zealand attack in Test conditions.

The most useful prediction is not necessarily that one low score will define Jaiswal’s series, but that India’s preparation will place added emphasis on patience and shot selection. The Christchurch match has already highlighted the value of leaving the ball well and resisting deliveries outside the off-stump channel. For Jaiswal and the rest of India’s batting group, those adjustments may prove crucial when the Test series begins in Wellington.