A fixture in the ongoing tri series in Sri Lanka grabbed the spotlight when a tight contest between India A and Sri Lanka A boiled over into an on-field confrontation. The result was thrilling, but the moment the match ended the mood turned sour and players from both sides ended up clashing with one another.
How the trouble began on the field
The spark flew during the celebrations. As the Sri Lankan players celebrated, they said a few things to Suryansh Shedge that did not sit well with him, and he flared up. Within moments Vaibhav Suryavanshi was drawn into the scuffle too, and he shoved Vishen Halambage. Seeing the tension rise on the field, the seasoned 79-year-old former Sri Lankan cricketer Anura Tennekoon stepped in and advised the 15-year-old Vaibhav to stay away from such trouble.
The former captain sought Vaibhav out himself
After the whole episode, Tennekoon wanted to walk over and meet Vaibhav Suryavanshi in person. Speaking to TrendKia, he counselled the young batter, saying, “तुम अपने खेल पर ध्यान दो और बाहर की बातों को नजरअंदाज करो. आज दुर्भाग्य से तुम अच्छा नहीं कर पाए, लेकिन ये खेल का हिस्सा है, हर दिन अच्छा नहीं हो सकता.” Coming from a veteran of the game, the message is being seen as especially valuable for a cricketer of his age, who still has a long career ahead of him.
Why every eye is on Vaibhav Suryavanshi
The moment Vaibhav Suryavanshi earned a place in the India A side for the tri series in Sri Lanka, fans were desperate to watch him turn out in India colours. His selection stirred up the cricket world, and it was precisely for this reason that the series was even broadcast live. Such is the buzz that wherever Vaibhav goes, all eyes fix on him. Ever since his record-breaking show in the Indian Premier League 2026, cricket experts around the world have been talking about him.
Who is Anura Tennekoon
The man who handed Vaibhav that advice, Tennekoon, is counted among Sri Lanka's finest batsmen from its early years. At a time when Sri Lanka had not even been granted Test status, he captained the side at the 1975 and 1979 ODI World Cups. Across four matches in those tournaments he scored 137 runs, including a half-century against New Zealand. His first-class record was even stronger. He played 61 first-class matches and amassed 3,481 runs, with five centuries and 19 fifties to his name. His ties to the game did not stop there either, in the early 2000s he also served as the chief executive of Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC).
