Jeet Raval

Jeet Raval is one of the most accomplished opening batsmen to have played in New Zealand's domestic game over the past two decades. Born in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, he moved to Auckland as a teenager and built a first-class career of genuine distinction — 164 matches, 10,432 runs, 24 centuries, and a career average of 37.66, with a highest score of 256 for Auckland. That record places him firmly in the top tier of New Zealand first-class cricketers of his generation.

His international credentials are beyond question. Raval represented New Zealand in 24 Tests between 2016 and 2020, scoring 1,143 runs at 30.07, including seven half-centuries and a maiden hundred of 132 against Bangladesh in 2019 — part of a 254-run opening stand with Tom Latham that remains among the finest in New Zealand's Test history. Technically assured at the top of the order, he is a left-hander who combines solid defensive technique with the ability to build substantial partnerships and punish loose deliveries when set.

What makes Raval an exceptionally attractive prospect in 2026 is his development as a genuine all-round option. His leg-break bowling has come into its own in recent seasons: in the 2024/25 Plunket Shield he took 14 wickets at the remarkable average of 11.14, including a best of 5 for 43 — figures that would be creditable for a specialist bowler, let alone an opening batsman. His overall first-class bowling record now stands at 44 wickets at 37.81, but that recent form signals a cricketer who can contribute meaningfully in three departments and change the complexion of a match from more than one position in the game.

Raval's connection with English cricket runs deep. His UK club record includes stints with West Brom Dartmouth (2011), Harefield (2016), and Cuckfield (2017), as well as a County Championship stint with Yorkshire in 2018, where he was signed as cover for the injured Kane Williamson. He is currently representing Haslingden in the Lancashire League and is available for a County Cricket engagement in 2026.

Counties seeking a composed, experienced top-order presence — one capable of constructing long innings and contributing wickets in the right conditions — will find few more credentialed candidates at this level.