New Zealand opener Jeet Raval sharpens up for Pakistan series with training stint in India

Sport360 staff 20:00 19/08/2018
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  • New Zealand Test opener Jeet Raval.

    New Zealand batsman Jeet Raval has undergone a short stint in India to sharpen his skills against spin ahead of the start of the side’s Test series against Pakistan.

    Raval, who made his debut for New Zealand in 2016, spent four weeks training in the Indian city of Hyderabad to help overcome his deficiencies against the turning ball.

    The India-born opening batsman arranged a deal to train with the Dayanand academy through the help of his friends back in India and Auckland team-mate Tarun Nethula.

    “They said I’d be eligible to play, so I put a proposal forward to New Zealand Cricket and they were supportive. That was the reasoning behind the trip,” Raval told the New Zealand Herald on his return.

    “Being in New Zealand as an opener, I don’t get to face a lot of spin, so I wanted to explore some options playing it in subcontinental conditions, especially with the next tour coming up (against Pakistan) in the UAE.

    Raval has registered six fifties so far in 11 Tests.

    Raval has registered six fifties so far in 11 Tests.

    “The value in speaking to local cricketers helps you realise you need a different skill set to succeed over there. Watching how they go about their cricket is fascinating. If I had the chance again, I’d do it for longer.”

    The 29-year-old believes that the India stint has been a sharp learning curve for him.

    “I was familiar with the culture and lifestyle, but in terms of the cricket, I felt like I was out of my comfort zone,” Raval said.

    “I was getting out five to six times each training session and these young teenage spinners were laughing at me, thinking ‘what’s this guy doing?’ But I enjoyed the challenge and kept an open mind about wanting to learn. If you have that, I believe you’ll come out a better player,” he added.

    The left-hander has notched up 648 runs in 11 Tests so far at a healthy average of 38.11 and he will play an important role for the Kiwis when they take on Pakistan in a three-Test series later this year.

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