India A to play three four-day games in Christchurch before New Zealand Tests
India A will play New Zealand A in three four-day matches in Christchurch from October 24. The series gives the Indian players early exposure ahead of the Test series against New Zealand later in the year.
India A are set to face New Zealand A in a three-match first-class series in Christchurch, with the fixtures scheduled to begin on October 24, New Zealand Cricket confirmed on Tuesday. The red-ball games will serve as an important preparatory exercise for India ahead of their senior team’s two-Test series against New Zealand later in the tour. The A side will get an opportunity to acclimatise to local conditions and provide match practice to players hoping to push for places in the national squad.
New Zealand Cricket included the India A fixtures in its announcement of the upcoming Plunket Shield schedule, with the country’s premier domestic first-class competition entering its 101st season.
"New Zealand’s premier first-class competition returns for its 101st season, adding to a packed rota of red ball cricket that also includes Tests against India and Sri Lanka at home, and Australia away."
"The domestic red ball summer will also get an injection of international class as New Zealand A host India A for three four-day matches in Christchurch starting October 24," read the statement from New Zealand cricket.
India have used a similar A-team pathway in the past. Ahead of their recent Sri Lanka tour, several players from the A setup, including Dhruv Jurel, Devdutt Padikkal, Saransh Jain and Gurnoor Brar, gained valuable competitive experience before the senior squad arrived.
The India A series comes as part of a busy tour for the Indian team, which is scheduled to play five T20Is, five ODIs and two Tests in New Zealand during October and November.
The Test leg will begin in Wellington from November 19 to 23, while the second match is scheduled to be played in Christchurch from November 27 to December 1.
India currently sit fifth in the World Test Championship standings, with New Zealand occupying third place.
The upcoming series will also allow India to respond to their previous Test experience against New Zealand. During their 2024-25 tour of India, the visitors produced a stunning 3-0 clean sweep in the series.