India-A escaped with a narrow win over Sri Lanka-A before suffering a surprise defeat to Afghanistan-A.
| Photo Credit: X\@BCCI
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has already shown enough to suggest that something special is brewing. Before embarking on the biggest assignments of his young career — a tour of Ireland and England with the Indian senior team — the teenager has made his presence felt in the ongoing tri-series involving the A teams of India, Sri Lanka and Afghanistan.
He has sparkled in short bursts, peppering the boundary ropes with fearless strokes and showcasing the carefree swagger that has quickly become his trademark. Every time he walks out to bat, there is a sense of anticipation.
Yet, those flashes of brilliance have remained just flashes. A promising start here, a whirlwind 22-ball 44 there, enough to leave spectators enthralled but also wondering what might happen if he spends a little more time at the crease.
In the challenging conditions of Dambulla, where spin often dictates terms, Sooryavanshi now has another opportunity to convert promise into substance. India-A faces Sri Lanka-A and Afghanistan-A in its remaining round-robin fixtures next Monday and Wednesday, with the youngster hoping to extend his stay in the middle and help steer his side into the final.
India-A began the tournament as one of the favourites but has endured a mixed campaign so far. It escaped with a narrow victory over Sri Lanka-A before suffering a surprise defeat to Afghanistan-A in a rain-affected contest.
“Let him be on his own,” former India captain Sourav Ganguly told The Hindu about Sooryavanshi.
Having nurtured several young cricketers, Ganguly believes it is important not to burden Sooryavanshi with excessive expectations. “He is a special talent, and we have all seen that in the IPL. He will obviously learn and improve as he grows, but it’s important to let him play freely and not put too much pressure on him. He is just 15,” Ganguly added.
Published – June 12, 2026 05:40 pm IST
