India Captain Tilak Varma breaks silence on ugly Super Over on Tri-Nation tour

Speaking publicly for the first time after his side’s controversial Super Over defeat against Sri Lanka A in the tri-series, India A captain Tilak Varma said the team had no intention of escalating tensions and only wanted clarity from the umpires on continuing play under fading light.

India A found themselves at the center of a controversy earlier this week after their tie against Sri Lanka A descended into heated scenes during and after the Super Over in Dambulla.

Ahead of the final, Tilak commented on the incident and dismissed suggestions that India engaged in lengthy arguments with the officials.

“Honestly, if you look at that match, the light wasn’t ideal for a Super Over. But we worked hard all day and we wanted a result because both teams were playing for two points. That’s all I asked the umpires. There wasn’t much arguing from our side,” Tilak Varma said in an interview with Sportstar.

WHAT HAPPENED BETWEEN INDIA AND SRI LANKA AND?

The comments come after a dramatic conclusion to the India League match against Sri Lanka A, where the match ended in a draw before the hosts secured the Super Over.

The controversy began at the end of the regular season.

Sri Lanka needed two runs from the final ball to win. After the appeal was dismissed, the batsmen completed the run and attempted a second before the run-out ended the over to level the scores.

India’s players were visibly animated after the run-out and questioned the circumstances surrounding the final delivery as the match headed into the Super Over amid fading light.

The discussions did not end there.

Another flashpoint emerged during the Super Over in Sri Lanka after a high full toss led to confusion over whether the delivery would stand. India briefly walked out before play resumed after an explanation from the officials.

Emotions overflowed after the competition ended.

Television footage showed young batsman Vaibhav Sooryavanshi engaged in a heated exchange with the Sri Lankan players after the Super Over defeat, before teammates and opponents intervened to separate those involved.

The incident attracted attention due to the nature of the tournament, which is traditionally seen as a development platform for emerging players rather than a high-pressure bilateral series.

INDIA A vs SRI LANKA A: FINAL

However, Tilak insisted that the team’s focus was on competing and learning rather than getting caught up in the result.

The India A captain also reflected on the expectations that come with leading the national team.

“As for the pressure, yes, that comes with leading India because of the legacy attached to the team. But pressure is part of the job. We actually played good cricket in this tournament. Against Afghanistan-A, the DLS result didn’t go our way. Against Sri Lanka-A, it was a very tight game. But overall we played well as a team and he delivered and now we have one game left.”

India A now return to Dambulla for another encounter with Sri Lanka A, this time with the tri-series title and a chance to move on from one of the most controversial nights of the tournament.

– The end

Issued by:

Kingshuk Kusari

Published on:

20 Jun 2026 22:11 IST