Noise followed Vaibhav Sooryavanshi long before he stepped onto the field in Dambulla. Four days prior, tempers flared between him and Sri Lanka A players – reports of penalties and reprimands filled the news cycle. Then came Sunday: no speeches, no explanations. Instead, his bat roared louder than any headline, tearing through bowling attacks like few have managed in List A history.
A blistering 94 from Sooryavanshi, off only 29 balls, lit up the match with ten boundaries and eight towering hits over the fence. Chasing that momentum, India A reached 377 for 9. Their total proved too strong, Sri Lanka A falling short by 66 runs as the trophy changed hands. From the outset, the left-handed batsman tore into the bowling attack. Fifty came in just eleven balls – a new benchmark in List A history. Onlookers in Dambulla sat wide-eyed, unprepared for such bold shot-making so early.
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi sets the tone, Bowlers finish the job
Bursts of light filled the sky right away. Off the very first over, boundaries flowed fast when Sooryavanshi faced Sri Lanka A’s bowlers. Through extra cover he slashed, timing it before the bounce, sharp and clean. Short ones didn’t stand a chance – he crushed them behind square. Then came a moment nobody saw: pace beating him wide outside off, yet he scooped it fine, high above the keeper, like instinct had taken over.
For a moment, it seemed certain he would notch up the quickest List A hundred while India A raced to 132 within eight point five overs. Yet out he went again – same bowler, second game running – luring him into a poorly timed drive that found hands at mid-off.
Even without their top batter, India A stayed ahead. Not far behind, Ruturaj Gaikwad calmly reached 40. Then came Tilak Varma, shaping the innings slowly through 90 deliveries for his 67. Together they pieced together 84 runs after quick wickets fell upfront.
Just as things began to unravel, India A found themselves at 334 for 8. Then came Anukul Roy – calm, steady, stepping into the breach without fanfare.
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Blasting away from the very first ball, the left-handed all-rounder, Samastipur’s Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, raced to 39 in only 15 deliveries. His whirlwind knock included four towering sixes that lifted India A towards a tough-to-chase score. Meanwhile, Vipraj Nigam joined the surge with a lively 27, adding spark at the death to seal a powerful finish.
A strong stand was essential for Sri Lanka A, yet Yash Thakur ripped through the batting lineup. Top wickets tumbled – Niroshan Dickwella gone, then Avishka Fernando dismissed, followed by Nuwanidu Fernando – all claimed by the fast bowler. The home side stumbled right at the start, falling out of step with the target.
A stubborn knock of 52 came from Sadeera Samarawickrama, one who kept moving forward even when chances seemed thin. Not far behind, Wanuja Sahan carved out 62 from 69 deliveries, each run earned through quiet insistence rather than flash. Together with Vijaykanth Viaskanth, a link formed – seventy-seven runs built slowly, almost without noise – which gave Sri Lanka A something fragile to believe in.
Roy landed a key breakthrough when he sent Viaskanth back, then quickly followed up by ending Sahan’s stay to shut down the run hunt. From there, Nigam chipped in with three dismissals using his leg-spin, crafting turns at just the right moments. Meanwhile, Thakur wrapped up with 3 for 45, keeping pressure steady till the end. Sri Lanka A finally folded for 311, all out in the 48th over.
That match will stick in memory not just for how the team pulled together, yet mostly for Sooryavanshi shining brightest. Though never picked before, this moment – possibly his final chance as a newcomer – became his own.
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