India A vs Afghanistan A | Highlights | Tri Nation A Series 2026

Afghanistan A Beat India A Despite Ruturaj Gaikwad Fifty

Afghanistan A pulled off a memorable victory against India A in the Tri Nation A Series in Sri Lanka 2026, winning by four runs via the DLS method in a high-scoring contest at the Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium. Despite India A posting a formidable total of 349/9, Afghanistan A showcased remarkable resilience and composure to emerge victorious in a rain-affected encounter.

The result highlighted Afghanistan A's growing strength in limited-overs cricket while exposing areas India A will look to improve ahead of their upcoming matches in the tournament.

Scorecard

Afghanistan A won by 4 runs (DLS method)

INDA

349/9(49)

AFGA

177/2(25.5)

Explosive Start Powers India A

After being asked to bat first, India A made an aggressive start thanks to young sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and wicketkeeper-batter Prabhsimran Singh. The pair added 74 runs for the opening wicket in just over seven overs, putting immediate pressure on the Afghanistan bowlers.

Vaibhav played with fearless intent, smashing 44 runs from only 22 deliveries, including nine boundaries. His aggressive approach set the tone for the innings before Abdullah Ahmadzai dismissed him.

Prabhsimran continued the momentum and played one of the finest knocks of the innings. The wicketkeeper struck 84 runs off 69 balls, finding boundaries regularly and ensuring India maintained a healthy scoring rate throughout the middle overs.

Ruturaj Gaikwad and Tilak Varma Anchor the Innings

Following a brief wobble after the fall of early wickets, Ruturaj Gaikwad and captain Tilak Varma steadied the innings with a crucial partnership.

Gaikwad displayed his trademark elegance, scoring a composed 66 from 80 balls. Although not his fastest innings, his knock provided stability and allowed other batters to attack around him.

Tilak Varma matched his teammate with an equally valuable 66 off 73 deliveries. The left-hander rotated strike efficiently and accelerated when required, helping India A build towards a massive total.

The duo's partnership laid the foundation for a strong finish as India crossed the 300-run mark comfortably.

Suryansh Shedge Provides Late Fireworks

The final overs belonged to Suryansh Shedge, whose explosive batting injected fresh momentum into India's innings. Shedge smashed 40 runs from just 27 balls, including two boundaries and two sixes.

Anukul Roy also played a useful cameo, remaining unbeaten on 16 from eight deliveries. Their efforts pushed India A to an imposing total of 349/9 in 49 overs.

For Afghanistan A, Abdullah Ahmadzai was the standout bowler, claiming an impressive five-wicket haul. Farmanullah Safi also chipped in with three wickets despite conceding runs.

Afghanistan A Rise to the Occasion

While India A appeared favorites after posting such a huge total, Afghanistan A showed tremendous character in their chase. Their batters applied pressure consistently and kept themselves ahead of the required rate before weather interruptions brought the DLS method into play.

The Afghan side demonstrated maturity, calculated aggression, and excellent game awareness throughout the contest. Their ability to capitalize on key moments ultimately proved decisive.

Positive Signs for India A

Although the defeat will disappoint the Indian camp, there were several encouraging performances. Prabhsimran Singh, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Tilak Varma, and Suryansh Shedge all contributed significantly with the bat.

However, the result also serves as a reminder that even a total nearing 350 runs offers no guarantees in modern one-day cricket. India A will now focus on improving their execution in crucial phases as they prepare for the remaining fixtures of the Tri Nation A Series.

For Afghanistan A, this victory represents another significant step forward and reinforces their reputation as one of the most competitive emerging cricketing nations in the world.