Sooryavanshi's knock of aggression helps India A rout Sri Lanka A in tri-series final
India A beat Sri Lanka A to clinch the tri-series (Source: BCCI)
Published - 21 Jun 2026, 04:23 PM• Read time - 6 mins
Player of the Match (POTM) Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's 29-ball 94 proved decisive as India A steamrolled Sri Lanka A by 66 runs in the final of the tri-series to clinch the title in Dambulla. Pacer Yash Thakur was the pick of all the India A bowlers as he returned figures of 3/45 and was well supported by leg-spinner Vipraj Nigam (3/60).
Sooryavanshi was mercilessly trolled across social media platforms after engaging in a physical altercation with Vishen Halambage after a high-voltage Super Over clash between Sri Lanka A and India A on June 15. The 15-year-old let his bat do the talking and gave a befitting reply when the stakes were at an all-time high.
The southpaw raced to 24 just five balls into his innings as he smoked 4, 4, 4, 6, 6 to get his knock underway. Sri Lanka A skipper Sahan Arachchige had no answers to the carnage inflicted by Sooryavanshi as he hoped for the teenager to make a mistake.
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Sooryavanshi took just 11 balls to reach his fifty, becoming the fastest half-centurion in List A history. He aggregated 132 runs in just 8.5 balls with his opening partner Priyansh Arya and provided India A with the head start they were desperately searching for.
Sooryavanshi fell against the run of play as the bat turned in his hands when he tried to go over cover against the Sri Lanka A captain and holed out to mid-off, just six shy of what could have been a majestic hundred. He scored 94 off just 29 balls, including 10 fours and eight sixes at a mindboggling strike rate of 324.13.
Arya (39 off 29) also fell five balls later, and India A suddenly looked in a spot of bother at 136/2 in 9.5 overs. However, vice-captain Ruturaj Gaikwad (40 off 51) and captain Tilak Varma (67 off 90) joined hands and added 84 runs for the third wicket to ease the nerves.
Gaikwad missed out on his fifty, but wicketkeeper Kumar Kushagra (36 off 39) added 63 runs for the fourth wicket to propel India A to a humongous total. India A suffered a blip when they lost three of their wickets (Kushagra, Tilak and Suryansh Shedge) for just six runs, and it produced an opening for Sri Lanka A.
However, the hosts weren't good enough to grab it with both hands as Vipraj Nigam (27 off 20) and Anukul Roy (39 off 15) shut the door down on their face. Roy's cameo was laced with one four and four maximums and came at a strike rate of 260.00 as India A posted a mammoth total of 377/9. Kugathas Mathulan (2/82), Ravindu Fernando (2/72) and Wanuja Sahan (2/39) claimed two wickets apiece.
Sri Lanka’s chase never quite found its rhythm. Openers Avishka Fernando and Niroshan Dickwella were back in the pavilion within the first five overs, leaving the side under immediate pressure.
Sadeera Samarawickrama tried to steady the innings with a fluent 52 off 44 balls, striking at 118.18 and adding 53 runs for the fourth wicket alongside skipper Arachchige (38 off 40). But both fell just as they looked set to push on, undone by sharp Indian bowling.
Sahan and Vijaykanth Viyaskanth offered a flicker of hope. Their spirited 77‑run stand for the seventh wicket briefly lifted Sri Lankan fans, with Sahan’s 62 off 69 and Viyaskanth’s 39 off 34 showing fight. But once they perished in pursuit of quick runs, the resistance crumbled.
Sri Lanka A were eventually bowled out for 311 in 47.1 overs, falling short despite flashes of resilience.
Top run-scorer of the Match
|
Player |
Team |
Runs |
Balls |
Fours |
Sixes |
Strike Rate |
|
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi |
India A |
94 |
29 |
10 |
8 |
324.13 |
Top wicket-taker of the Match
|
Player |
Team |
Overs |
Maiden |
Runs |
Wickets |
Economy |
|
Yash Thakur |
India A |
7 |
0 |
45 |
3 |
6.42 |
Player of the Match
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi
Sri Lanka A suffered the consequences of poking Sooryavanshi as the left-hander looked composed to bat them out of the contest and did so with aplomb. His knock gave India A the platform they needed in a high-stakes game like this.
Turning Point
Sooryavanshi's knock was the turning point as it left Sri Lanka A too far behind in the game. The hosts were forced to play catch-up even after dismissing him.
What did the captains say:
Winning Captain, Tilak Varma (India A)
"Everyone showed real character. Especially after we lost back-to-back games. Then we won with big margins which was tremendous. Everyone has played domestic cricket and has experience. Just a matter of planning before the game. We start big, consolidate and accelerate. Slightly disappointed with the bowling but it happens in one-off series. We have a good side."
Losing Captain, Sahan Arachchige (Sri Lanka A)
"Sooryavanshi played a brilliant innings. We managed the innings nicely thereon but let it slide in the last two overs. When we are chasing a big score, top order can fall cheaply. It happens. Young guys have played well, seniors have scored too. It's been a good tournament."
