The Tri-Nation A Series moves to Dambulla today, where India A square off against hosts Sri Lanka A in a contest that carries more than just points. For the Indian camp, this game is as much about fixing the cracks exposed in their last outing as it is about winning. And at the centre of the conversation sits young batter Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, from whom the team is hoping for a big, match-defining innings.
A Chance for Vaibhav Sooryavanshi to Step Up
So far, the tournament has not gone the way Vaibhav Sooryavanshi would have liked. Given his reputation, the impact expected from his bat is yet to materialise on the field. That is precisely why this clash against Sri Lanka A is being seen as a golden opportunity for him to announce his true ability and add some steel to the Indian batting line-up.
A Close Win That Slipped Away Against Afghanistan A
India A's previous match left a bitter taste. In a rain-affected encounter, Afghanistan A edged India out by just 4 runs under the Duckworth-Lewis (DLS) method. What stings most is that the defeat came despite a mountain of runs. Batting first, India piled up an imposing 349/9 in 49 overs.
That total was built on a superb 84 from Prabhsimran Singh, with Ruturaj Gaikwad and captain Tilak Varma chipping in with 66 apiece. Yet even those runs were not enough, as India's bowlers could not tighten their grip on the game. Afghanistan, meanwhile, stayed in the hunt thanks to 75 from captain Imran Mir and an unbeaten 51 from Bahir Shah. By the time the rain arrived, Afghanistan were ahead on the DLS par score, and that is where the win slipped through India's fingers.
The Series Began on a High
The campaign, however, had started on a happy note for India. Earlier in the tournament, against these very hosts Sri Lanka A, India had pulled off a nerve-jangling 8-run victory. In that match too, the Indian bowlers produced a strong finish to swing the contest their way. Now the team will be looking to repeat the feat against the same opponents and bank a second win over the hosts.
Full Squads of Both Teams
India A: Prabhsimran Singh (wicketkeeper), Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Priyansh Arya, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Tilak Varma (captain), Ayush Badoni, Suryansh Shedge, Anukul Roy, Arshad Khan, Vipraj Nigam, Anshul Kamboj, Yash Thakur, Yudhvir Singh Charak, Kumar Kushagra, Nishant Sindhu.
Sri Lanka A: Niroshan Dickwella (wicketkeeper), Avishka Fernando, Vishen Halambage, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Ahan Wickramasinghe, Sahan Arachchige (captain), Wanuja Sahan, Vijayakanth Viyaskanth, Kugathas Mathulan, Chamika Gunasekara, Mohamed Shiraz, Chamika Karunaratne, Nuwanidu Fernando, Ravindu Fernando, Garuka Sanketh, Dulaj Samuditha.
