A correct left-handed opener with strokes in most directions, Jeet Raval had been a steady hand in the Auckland side for several years, before he piqued the interest of the national selectors in 2016. Though not a prolific collector of hundreds, only once in eight first-class seasons has Raval allowed his average to dip below 40. He earned a call-up to the Test team following an especially prolific season in 2015-16, in which he hit 1016 runs at an average of 59.76.

Born in Gujarat, Raval had attended the same school as India wicketkeeper-batsman Parthiv Patel, before his family moved to New Zealand. He had come through the New Zealand Under-19 team before moving on to senior cricket. He is said to be an especially good player of seam bowling, if occasionally vulnerable to spin.
Andrew Fidel Fernando