Former India batter Ambati Rayudu has heaped praise on Yashasvi Jaiswal, describing him as one of the finest red-ball batters in the country ahead of India’s upcoming two-match Test series against New Zealand. The Shubman Gill-led Indian team will face the Blackcaps from November 19 in a crucial World Test Championship (WTC) 2025-27 assignment, with valuable points at stake in the race for the final. Jaiswal has given himself a timely confidence boost with impressive performances for India A during their three-match series against New Zealand A.

The left-handed opener finished the tour with 279 runs in five innings at an average of 69.75, recovering strongly after a difficult start. After managing scores of 17, 5 and 0, Jaiswal produced two outstanding innings in the final stages of the tour. At Hagley Oval, where the second Test between India and New Zealand will be played, he smashed an unbeaten 155 off 162 deliveries. His innings included 15 boundaries and five sixes, while he shared an unbeaten 247-run partnership with Yash Rathod.

The 24-year-old continued his impressive run in Lincoln, scoring 102 off 138 balls with 16 fours and two sixes. Although all three India A matches ended in draws, largely due to weather interruptions, Jaiswal’s consecutive centuries were particularly encouraging after his initial struggles.

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Speaking on Cricbuzz, Ambati Rayudu backed the youngster to become one of India’s all-time greats, highlighting his combination of natural talent, temperament and determination. “Absolutely. I think he is one of the best Test batters we have going right now. In the future, he will be someone competing against the Indian greats. So, I feel that he has not only the game and the talent, but also the grit that is required to be a really good Test cricketer,” Rayudu said.

He further added that Jaiswal has the potential to establish himself as an equally effective performer in white-ball cricket with time.

Former India spinner Murali Kartik also welcomed the opener’s recent performances, particularly ahead of the challenging New Zealand conditions. While Jaiswal enjoyed some success during India’s previous Test tour of England, his campaign included four single-digit scores despite finishing with an overall average of 41.10.

Kartik believes the recent India A series will help the youngster enter the upcoming assignment with greater confidence and clarity. Meanwhile, Ambati Rayudu also identified Dhruv Jurel as a player who could have a significant impact during the New Zealand Test series. Jurel, who captained India A, recovered from a difficult start to score a century and a half-century on the tour.

With Rishabh Pant still recovering from injury and awaiting fitness clearance, Jurel could have additional responsibilities in the Indian middle order, potentially batting at No. 6 or No. 7. “If you look at Dhruv Jurel, he scores some important runs. Whenever I have seen him, he plays the situation really well. Whenever the team is struggling, I have seen him put his hand up, more often than not,” Ambati Rayudu said.

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He further described Jurel as a crucial player for India, particularly because of his ability to handle the new ball and contribute in difficult situations. The first Test will begin at Basin Reserve on November 19, followed by the second match at Hagley Oval from November 27. Currently fourth in the WTC 2025-27 standings, India will be keen to collect maximum points from the New Zealand tour to strengthen their chances of reaching the final.