India A began their 2026 Tri-Series campaign with an exciting eight-run victory over Sri Lanka A at the Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium. The closely contested match saw India A hold their nerve in the final stages to secure a winning start.
After losing the toss, India A struggled to build momentum early in their innings. The team slipped to 69/3, putting pressure on the middle order to stabilise the innings and guide the side towards a competitive total.
Ruturaj Gaikwad and Tilak Varma responded brilliantly by stitching together a crucial 150-run partnership. Their stand helped India A recover from a difficult position and regain control of the contest.
Gaikwad led the charge with an impressive 101, registering a valuable century under pressure. Tilak Varma provided solid support with 60 runs, while Ayush Badoni and Suryansh Shedge contributed 24 and 26 respectively to help India A post 277/6 in 50 overs.
Young opener Vaibhav Suryavanshi, who finished IPL 2026 as the Orange Cap winner, was unable to make a significant impact in the match. Expectations were high following his successful IPL campaign, but he failed to convert his start into a substantial score.
Sri Lanka A responded positively during the chase and their openers added 93 runs for the first wicket. The strong partnership put India A under pressure and gave Sri Lanka A a solid platform to pursue the target.
India A fought back through Ayush Badoni, whose timely breakthroughs disrupted Sri Lanka A’s momentum. His efforts helped reduce the opposition to 109/3 and brought the match back into balance.
Sahan Arachchige and Sadeera Samarawickrama then steadied the innings with an important partnership. Their contribution kept Sri Lanka A firmly in contention, and at one stage, they appeared favourites to complete the chase.
With only 10 runs needed from the final two overs and three wickets in hand, Sri Lanka A looked set for victory. However, India A produced a remarkable turnaround as Arshad Khan claimed two wickets and a run-out sealed the collapse. Sri Lanka A were eventually bowled out for 269 in 48.5 overs.
For India A, Arshad Khan, Anukul Roy, Ayush Badoni and Vipraj Nigam picked up two wickets each, while Anshul Kamboj claimed one wicket. Their collective effort proved decisive in defending the target.
The victory gave India A a strong start to the tri-series campaign. Ruturaj Gaikwad’s century and the bowlers’ composure in the closing overs played crucial roles in securing the hard-fought win.
