Padikkal's Epic 199 Powers India A Fightback Against NZ A
Devdutt Padikkal's sensational 199 and contributions from Sundar, Sudharsan, and Rathod propel India A to a dominant lead against New Zealand A.
In a stunning turnaround of fortunes, Devdutt Padikkal played a monumental knock of 199 to put India A firmly in control of the first unofficial Test against New Zealand A at Lincoln. After a disastrous start to the match, the visitors staged a massive fightback on day three, ending the day at 488/8 and establishing a commanding lead of 284 runs.
The Padikkal Masterclass
India A began the third day in a precarious position at 106/2, with Padikkal (56*) and Sai Sudharsan (39*) at the crease. What followed was a batting clinic. Padikkal reached his century off 128 balls, peppering the New Zealand attack with 14 boundaries and a six.
The partnership between Padikkal and Sudharsan was the cornerstone of the recovery, adding 215 runs. Sudharsan played a steady supporting role, scoring 91 off 184 balls (including 12 fours) before being dismissed by Kristian Clarke. Even after captain Dhruv Jurel fell cheaply for just two runs, Padikkal remained immovable. He pushed on to reach 150 runs in 204 balls, eventually falling just one short of a double century, finishing with 19 fours and two sixes.
Middle-Order Fireworks and Lower-Order Grit
As Padikkal continued his onslaught, he found a dynamic partner in Yash Rathod. The duo shared a rapid 142-run stand, with Rathod smashing a quick-fire 66 off just 72 balls, featuring eight boundaries. While both were dismissed in quick succession—leaving India A at 378/6—the damage had already been done.
The momentum was maintained by the lower order. Washington Sundar played a crucial unbeaten knock of 51 from 75 balls, while Auqib Nabi contributed a spirited 38. Together, they added 69 runs for the seventh wicket. Anshul Kamboj also chipped in with 23 runs, helping India A cross the 400-run threshold. The day ended with Sundar and Akash Deep (0*) remaining unbeaten.
A Tale of Two Innings
The magnitude of this recovery becomes clearer when looking at the start of the match. After winning the toss and electing to field, New Zealand A had completely dismantled India A in the first innings, bowling them out for a meager 113 runs. It was a collapse of epic proportions, with six Indian batters recording ducks. Only Yash Rathod (44*) and Padikkal (32) offered any resistance.
New Zealand A capitalized on that collapse, posting 317 runs to take a massive 204-run lead. Their innings was highlighted by a 132-run opening partnership between Rhys Mariu (76) and Curtis Heaphy (44), along with a half-century from Dean Foxcroft (51). The Indian bowling effort was led by Auqib Nabi and Anshul Kamboj, who took three wickets each, supported by Akash Deep (2), Mukesh Chaudhary (1), and Washington Sundar (1).
Struggles for the Stars
Despite the overall team recovery, some senior names struggled to find their rhythm. Yashasvi Jaiswal failed to make an impact in both innings, scoring 17 and 5, while KL Rahul suffered a similar fate with scores of 0 and 4.