Rain wipes out Day 3 in Lincoln, disrupts India A's Test prep ahead of Nov 19 series
Synopsis
Rain has dealt a real blow to India's Test preparation in Lincoln — not just a lost day, but lost overs for Bumrah, Jadeja and Prasidh Krishna, three bowlers who needed competitive match time most before the first Test on 19 November. With the series now heading to a draw, India's management must head into the opening Test with only partial assessments of their frontline attack.
Key Takeaways
Persistent rain wiped out the entire Day 3 of the third four-day fixture between India A and New Zealand A in Lincoln on 9 November 2026 .
Jasprit Bumrah had bowled 6 overs for 11 runs on Day 2 but was denied a further outing in his comeback campaign.
Ravindra Jadeja remained unused with the ball going into Day 3; he now has only the final day to get bowling practice.
Prasidh Krishna took 2 wickets from 5 overs on Day 2 in his first appearance since a hamstring injury on 30 September .
India A lead by 428 runs with India A 464/5 dec against New Zealand A 36/2 ; the series is heading for a draw.
India's senior side begins the two-match Test series against New Zealand on 19 November .
India A's preparations for the upcoming two-match Test series against New Zealand suffered a significant blow as persistent rainfall washed out the entire Day 3 of the third four-day fixture against New Zealand A in Lincoln on Monday, 9 November. With the senior side's red-ball assignment set to begin on 19 November, the lost day has severely restricted the visitors' opportunity to sharpen their match fitness and assess key personnel.
Series Heading Towards a Draw
The washout has effectively pushed the third and final fixture of the three-game series toward an inconclusive result. India A had declared their first innings at 464 for 5, with New Zealand A replying at 36 for 2 — a deficit of 428 runs. With only the fourth day's play remaining, a result appears virtually impossible.
The series now seems destined to conclude without a decisive outcome, robbing India's management of exactly the kind of competitive match pressure they would have wanted ahead of the Test opener.
Bumrah's Comeback Stalled
Jasprit Bumrah's return to competitive cricket had been among the most closely watched aspects of this fixture. The pace spearhead had not played since the Asian Games in early October and was subsequently rested for the white-ball series against both West Indies and New Zealand. He spent time preparing in Ahmedabad before completing a return-to-play programme at the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru.
On Day 2, Bumrah bowled six overs, conceding just 11 runs, including a maiden — an economical and encouraging start to his comeback. However, Monday's washout denied him a second consecutive opportunity to build on that spell, leaving his readiness for the first Test still only partially assessed.
Jadeja and Prasidh Krishna Also Affected
Ravindra Jadeja, who had arrived in New Zealand after appearing in two Ranji Trophy matches for Saurashtra, had yet to bowl in the match heading into Day 3. With the weather intervening, he will now depend entirely on whatever overs are available on the final day to get meaningful practice with the ball before the Test series.
Prasidh Krishna, returning from a hamstring injury sustained in the second ODI against West Indies on 30 September, made an immediate impression when he did get the opportunity. The right-arm pacer claimed both New Zealand A wickets to fall on Day 2, finishing with 2 wickets from 5 overs. Prasidh had originally been in the ODI squad against New Zealand but was redirected to this red-ball fixture — his showing in Lincoln keeps him firmly in the reckoning for a Test berth on 19 November.
Brief Scores
India A 464/5 dec (Yashasvi Jaiswal 102, Sai Sudharsan 88, Tilak Varma 81*, Dhruv Jurel 71, Washington Sundar 50*; Zak Gibson 2-73) lead New Zealand A 36/2 (Curtis Heaphy 19, Dean Foxcroft 10; Prasidh Krishna 2-12) by 428 runs.
What Remains at Stake
The final day of the fixture carries disproportionate weight for India's coaching staff. With Bumrah, Jadeja, and Prasidh all needing overs under their belt before 19 November, every available session in Lincoln now counts. Any further disruption from weather could send key bowlers into the first Test without the match preparation their management had planned for.
Point of View
But one partial spell is thin evidence of full readiness ahead of a Test series. If Jadeja arrives at the first Test without a single competitive over in New Zealand conditions, that is a planning gap, not just bad luck.
NationPress
9 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was Day 3 of the India A vs New Zealand A match washed out?
Persistent rainfall in Lincoln on 9 November wiped out the entire third day's play, leaving India A without any further match time in a fixture already constrained by weather.
How does the washout affect India's preparation for the Test series?
India's key bowlers — Jasprit Bumrah, Ravindra Jadeja and Prasidh Krishna — all needed competitive overs before the first Test on 19 November. The lost day has sharply reduced the available match time for the returning players to build rhythm and confidence.
What was Jasprit Bumrah's performance before the washout?
Bumrah bowled six overs on Day 2, conceding just 11 runs including a maiden, without taking a wicket. It was his first competitive outing since the Asian Games in early October, following rest and a return-to-play programme at the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru.
How did Prasidh Krishna perform in the Lincoln fixture?
Prasidh Krishna took 2 wickets from 5 overs on Day 2 — his first competitive appearance since a hamstring injury on 30 September. His performance is significant as he remains a candidate for India's pace attack in the opening Test on 19 November.
What is the current match situation in the third fixture?
India A declared at 464 for 5, with New Zealand A replying at 36 for 2 — a deficit of 428 runs. With only the final day remaining after the Day 3 washout, the match and the series are expected to end in a draw.
