India A Seal the Title in Style at Dambulla
In the ODI Tri-Series final at Dambulla, Tilak Varma's India A produced a complete all-round performance to beat Sri Lanka A by 66 runs and lift the trophy. The tournament brought together the A teams of Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, and India. Sri Lanka won the toss and elected to field, a decision their bowlers would come to deeply regret from the very first over.
Vaibhav Suryavanshi Tears Apart Sri Lanka A's Bowling
The undisputed star of the match was 15-year-old opener Vaibhav Suryavanshi, who dismantled Sri Lanka A's bowling with a breathtaking assault. He scored 94 runs off just 29 balls, hitting 10 fours and 8 sixes at a staggering strike rate of 324.14. Together with Priyanshu Arya, who scored 39, Suryavanshi forged a 132-run opening partnership in a mere 8.5 overs. That stand effectively decided the match before the powerplay was even done.
11-Ball Fifty: A New List A World Record
During his onslaught, Suryavanshi reached his half-century off just 11 deliveries, setting a new world record for the fastest fifty in List A cricket. He surpassed Sri Lanka's Kaushal Viyaratne, who had previously set the benchmark at 12 balls. Suryavanshi was named Player of the Match for his match-winning knock, a recognition that felt understated for a teenager who keeps rewriting the record books.
Tilak Varma, Ruturaj Gaikwad and Anukul Roy Keep the Score Building
After Suryavanshi's dismissal, captain Tilak Varma steadied the innings with a composed 67 off 90 balls. Ruturaj Gaikwad weighed in with a useful 40, and Kumar Kushagra contributed 36 in the middle order. The innings ended in a blaze courtesy of Anukul Roy, who hammered an unbeaten 39 off 15 balls with four sixes to push India A to a massive 377 for 9 in their 50 overs. Vanuja Sahan, Ravindu Fernando, and Kugathas Mathulan each took 2 wickets for Sri Lanka A.
Sri Lanka A's Top Order Collapses Under Pressure
Chasing 378, Sri Lanka A were in trouble almost immediately. Yash Thakur bowled with sharp discipline and pace, refusing to give the top-order batters any foothold. Avishka Fernando was removed for just 3, and Niroshan Dickwella fell for 25. Sadira Samarawickrama (52) and captain Sahan Arachiged (38) worked hard to rebuild, but neither was able to match the steep run rate demanded by such a towering total.
Vanuja Sahan's Brave Fight Falls Short at 311
Lower down the order, Vanuja Sahan refused to surrender, scoring 62 off 69 balls. His partnership with Vijaykant Viyaskanth (39 runs) put India A's bowlers under brief pressure, but the Indian attack kept removing batters at regular intervals and never allowed Sri Lanka A to mount a genuine challenge. The entire Sri Lankan side was dismissed for 311 in 47.1 overs, falling 66 runs short of their target.
Yash Thakur and Vipraj Nigam Share the Bowling Honours
With the ball, Yash Thakur was the standout performer, returning 3 wickets for 45 runs from 7 overs. Spinner Vipraj Nigam matched that haul with 3 for 60. Anukul Roy chipped in with 2 for 42, and captain Tilak Varma added a wicket as well. With bat and ball both firing, India A's commanding title win was a powerful statement about the exceptional depth of talent in Indian cricket at the junior level.
