Yashasvi Jaiswal struck his second straight century as India A reached 227/2 against New Zealand A on the rain-hit opening day of the third NZ A vs IND A 2026 unofficial Test at the Bert Sutcliffe Oval in Lincoln on Saturday.
Jaiswal, who plays forRajasthan Royals in the IPL, struck 102 off 138 balls, including 16 fours and two sixes, to help India A reach 227/2 before rain brought an early end to the day’s play.
The knock came just four days after Jaiswal's unbeaten 155 against New Zealand A in Christchurch, where he completed 5000 runs in first-class cricket.
Saturday's century was his 19th in the format and took his career tally to 5247 runs from 57 matches.
Put into bat on a green surface, India A made a watchful start as Jaiswal and Sai Sudharsan negotiated testing spells from Brett Randell and Zak Gibson.
Jaiswal gradually found his rhythm against Jarrod McKay, pulling the pacer for six in the 14th over before striking three fours off him in the 16th over.
The pair took India A to 83/0 at lunch, with Jaiswal unbeaten on 49.
The 24-year-old Jaiswal brought up his half-century off 87 balls with a boundary off Randell in the 29th over.
Jaiswal was handed a reprieve on 54 when Matthew Boyle dropped him at first slip off McKay in the 32nd over.
The left-hander made the most of the opportunity, striking three consecutive fours off the next three deliveries.
He continued to attack, smashing Gibson for his second six in the 34th over before taking on Dean Foxcroft's spin.
Jaiswal reached his century off 127 deliveries with successive boundaries against Foxcroft in the 44th over, bringing up his second hundred in as many innings against New Zealand A.
At the other end, Sudharsan played a more measured innings, completing his half-century off 129 balls as the openers added 175 runs for the first wicket.
Jaiswal's innings eventually ended in the 47th over when he chipped Danru Ferns to Cameron Paul at mid-off.
Sudharsan, meanwhile, remained unbeaten on 77 off 205 balls, while India A captainDhruv Jurel, another Royals star, was not out on 12 when rain stopped play after 69.3 overs.
The two teams had drawn the opening two unofficial Tests, with Jaiswal's unbeaten 155 playing a crucial role in helping India A salvage a draw in the second match.
Jaiswal, Jurel and fellow Royals playerRavindra Jadeja are also part ofIndia's Test squad for the New Zealand tour.
The two-match Test series begins at the Basin Reserve in Wellington on November 19.
