India 'A' vs NZ 'A': Top 5 players who impressed in the Test series

2. Jalaj S Saxena (India ‘A’ – 30 runs and 8 wickets)

Another player who has been plying his trade on the not-so-helpful tracks offered in domestic cricket, Jalaj Saxena wrecked the New Zealand batting line-up in the first Test with his off-breaks. None of the batsmen were able to pick his variations, except for the top-scorer Luke Ronchi and all-rounder Todd Astle. The Indore lad, eventually, went on to pick up six wickets in that innings.

Saxena plays as an all-rounder for the Madhya Pradesh Ranji team, but his batting has deteriorated since his early days in cricket. Although he started off as an opener and has scored a hundred to his credit in first-class cricket, he now comes in to bat at no. 8. His numbers may not be that great, but at 27, Saxena does have plenty to offer to the national side – as long as he is able to justify his ‘all-rounder’ tag with some consistent batting performances, while continuing to take wickets.

1. Manprit Juneja (India ‘A’ – 236 runs)

Manpreet Juneja

Easily the find of the short tourney. Young Manprit Juneja pulled out all the shots in his book during the final Test against the visitors. After making 43 in the first game, the right-hander from Gujarat walked into a crisis with his side at 16/2, trailing New Zealand by over 400 runs.

He immediately took charge of the proceedings and got some momentum going by striking a few boundaries. Blending caution with aggression and displaying nerves of steel, Juneja attacked the predictable Kiwi bowling over and over again, adding 197 with opener VA Jagadeesh, and another 88 runs with skipper Abhishek Nayar. He quickly changed gears after both batsmen were dismissed, holding up one end as wickets kept falling at the other end.

Juneja missed out on a double century by seven runs, but such was the brilliance of his batting display that India ‘A’ eventually finished seven runs behind the Kiwi total, and held on for a draw as time ran out in the visitors’ second innings. His sublime innings was easily the best of the lot, surpassing even Luke Ronchi’s 125 in the first match.

It was a well-paced knock, coming at a crucial juncture and especially when wickets were falling all around him. This young Delhi Daredevil batsman is definitely a magnificent future prospect for the senior team.