Just kidding: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s revenge arc destroys Sri Lanka in tri-series final

The final of the tri-nation series proved to be the most anticlimactic event in a tournament that has seen so much drama over the past week. India A vs Sri Lanka A’s third match of the series came on the back of creating a chaotic Super Over and a late change of fortune before that. But on Sunday, June 21, India absolutely nailed Sri Lanka A to lift the trophy at the Ranagiri Stadium in Dambulla.

Sent in to bat first, India piled up 377 runs, thanks to Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s breathtaking knock of 94 runs. Vaibhav’s incredible onslaught was doubled by the Indian bowlers – especially Yash Thakur, who dismantled Sri Lanka’s top order in the first 10 overs of the chase, killing the game early for the India A side.

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi was the most defining story of the day. The young batsman, still only 15, entered the match after a series of brief cameos and a nasty tussle against the Sri Lanka A players.

Vaibhav did not take kindly to being taunted by the Sri Lankan players after India’s A Super Over loss in the group stage and pushed one of the players during the scuffle.

On Sunday, Vaibhav went into bat with murderous intent.

First ball: hit for four down the ground.

Second ball: the top edge of the pull attempt. Over the goalkeeper for the boundary.

Third ball: Pulled through deep mid-wicket for four.

Then came the sixes, three against Mohammed Shiraz in the 3rd over.

In no time at all, Vaibhav reached his fifty. The boss kid reached his milestone in just 11 balls – the fastest in List A history.

There was only one dot in the 11 balls that brought up his fifty.

India A vs Sri Lanka A Final: Highlights

Vaibhav’s first single of the day came when he was already batting on 64 and chasing the fastest hundred in the history of List A cricket. It made sense that he would get there. Just last month, he was on the verge of the fastest hundred in the history of the Indian Premier League. How long could Sri Lanka A be safe from his wrath? That too after pissing him off like that in the last game.

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi stood on the brink of this record in the 9th over when he scored 94 runs off just 28 balls. One more hit and he would equal Australia’s Jake Fraser-McGurk for the record for the fastest List A set.

But again it was not to be. Batting Sri Lanka captain Sahan Arachchige, who had dismissed him in the last match, Vaibhav took the catch straight to mid-on as he failed to get the required height on a lofted drive.

His innings ended at 94 off 29, agonizingly short of his hundred.

Then Sri Lanka were stunned. Unlike the last match, no one got in his face to celebrate, no one danced in the Sri Lankan line-up. After the ninth shootout, they knew they had lost the match.

Senior Sri Lanka A player Niroshan Dickwella patted Sooryavanshi on the back, said “good knock” and went on his way.

INDIA SHOWS COMPLETE DOMINATION IN TRI-SERIES FINAL

In the 10th over, India scored 140 runs for the loss of two wickets – opener Vaibhav and Priyansh Arya. The left-handed duo dismantled the pace bowling attack and gave India a dream start to the final.

Vaibhav’s shots today were particularly impressive as he was able to open up and get offside, lifting the ball over the covers again and again to punish the Sri Lankan line-up.

Most of the batsmen started – Priyansh (39), Ruturaj Gaikwad (40), Tilak Varma (67), Kumar Kushagra (36), Vipraj Nigam (27) and Anukul Roy (39) combined to hand India a mammoth total of 377 runs.

The only blip came between the 39th and 42nd overs where India lost three quick wickets – Kushagra, Tilak and Suryansh Shedge (2) – and looked set to lose their way. But this was counterbalanced by an incredible attack from Anukul Roy in the last two overs which ensured India a perfect end to their batting innings.

YASH THAKUR BUILDING

The only way for Sri Lanka A to stay in the game was a sensational start. One would back the hosts to be able to do that given how their top order scored in almost every game.

India A have struggled to get Sri Lanka out in their last two games, causing major problems in their ability to control the game.

However, things were different on Sunday as Yash Thakur’s spirited spell in the powerplay wiped out both the openers – Avishka Fernando and Niroshan Dickwella – in the first five overs of the match. Tagore’s pace and angles made both balloons shake. Aviska played the ball to Ruturaj at slip as Dickwell’s stumps were shattered around the wicket.

Sri Lanka ended up losing three wickets in the first 10 overs, erasing any chance of staying in the game.

Sri Lanka’s method today seemed to be simple – hit or get out. And that approach didn’t pay off for the hosts on Sunday. Sadeera Samarawickrama (52), Sahan Arachchige (38), Wanuja Sahan (62) and Vijaykanth Viyaskanth (39) battled valiantly but were just unable to save enough wickets to secure the final blow for the hosts in Dambulla today.

LESSONS FROM THE TRI-SERIES

Sri Lanka’s lower order A side dragged the match to the point where they needed 103 runs in the last 10 overs – quite doable by today’s standards – but they just didn’t have enough wickets in the kitty to support the effort.

And that is perhaps why this game from India A was so impressive on all fronts, as despite a fast start in the first 10 overs, Tilak Varma and Ruturaj Gaikwad were mature enough to slow down the innings on a spin-friendly surface and wait for the right time to provide the final push.

What India might want from their young bowlers is more cutting through the middle overs where they can pick up regular wickets and kill games instead of letting them drag on till the final overs of the match.

The match went on till the 48th over where Vipraj Nigam finally managed to catch fast bowler Mohamed Shiraz at backward point. India registered a massive 66-run victory to clinch the trophy on Sunday.

– The end

Issued by:

Kingshuk Kusari

Published on:

21 Jun 2026 18:16 IST