After an ill-tempered Super-Over finish against Sri Lanka A, which led to physical contact and verbal exchanges involving Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, India A found themselves in a must-win situation against Afghanistan A in their final league-stage fixture.[reference:0] The visitors had earlier put themselves in a strong position with a massive total of 349/9 against Afghanistan A, who clinched the game by a mere four runs via the DLS method after reaching 177/2 in 25.5 overs.[reference:1]

With Sri Lanka A at the top of the points table and India A and Afghanistan A separated only by net run rate, the stakes couldn’t have been higher.[reference:2] India A captain Tilak Varma knew that only a win would keep his team’s final hopes alive.[reference:3]

Afghanistan A won the toss and elected to field first on a rather sluggish Dambulla pitch.[reference:4] The decision seemed tactical — with rain threatening to play a part in Dambulla, bowling first could have been advantageous under the DLS method.[reference:5][reference:6]

In only the second over of the India A innings, a major controversy erupted. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, who had opened the batting alongside Priyansh Arya, attempted a shot towards point off the bowling of Shams Ur Rahman.[reference:7] The ball went high in the air, and fielder Faridoon Dawoodzai dived to his left and claimed a one-handed catch.[reference:8]

The on-field players and spectators believed the catch was clean.[reference:9] However, the on-field umpires referred the decision to the third umpire for confirmation.[reference:10] Replays showed that from one angle, part of the ball appeared to touch the grass as Dawoodzai hit the ground.[reference:11] The third umpire ruled Sooryavanshi not out.Source: ABP Live

The decision infuriated the Afghanistan players. They expressed strong displeasure and engaged in heated arguments with the umpires.[reference:12] The Afghan players were convinced the catch was taken cleanly and that Sooryavanshi should have been dismissed.[reference:13]

Sooryavanshi, who had been at the centre of the post-match altercation against Sri Lanka A, was once again in the spotlight.[reference:14] He went on to score 38 runs off 28 balls, with four boundaries and two sixes, before eventually falling to Faridoon Dawoodzai — the same fielder who had claimed the controversial catch.Source: Bhaskar

India A were quick off the blocks with Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and Priyansh Arya adding 75 runs for the opening wicket in just eight overs.[reference:15] Sooryavanshi, despite the early controversy, struck some trademark shots through the covers and a couple of sixes.[reference:16] He fell in familiar fashion — attempting to pull a bouncer outside off-stump from pacer Faridoon Dawoodzai, who cramped the 15-year-old for room with a well-directed short-pitched delivery.[reference:17]

Priyansh Arya, however, looked completely at ease in the middle. He brought up his fifty in just 29 balls.[reference:18] However, his ultra-aggressive approach led to his dismissal — a square cut off Farmanullah was taken at point by Shams Ur Rahman.[reference:19] The Delhi left-hander’s dismissal also brought in a change in the tempo of the India A innings as the run-rate dipped from over 8 to just above 6.[reference:20]

As the innings progressed, the deck began to slow down visibly.[reference:21] Skipper Tilak Varma and his deputy Ruturaj Gaikwad found it tough to sustain the early momentum.[reference:22] Gaikwad was unlucky to be adjudged caught behind down the leg side by stumper Mohammad Ishaq off Abdollah Ahmadzai.[reference:23]

That brought Kumar Kushagra to the crease. Tilak and Kushagra added 104 runs for the fourth wicket, steadying the innings.[reference:24] Tilak reached his fifty in 67 balls, while Kushagra made his half-century in 60 balls.[reference:25] However, they often scored at under five or a little over five an over, reflecting the sluggish nature of the pitch.[reference:26]

Kushagra got out while giving a charge to pacer Dawoodzai, and Tilak’s booming drive outside off-stump off Ahmadzai ended in the hands of stumper Ishaq.[reference:27] It left India at 271/6 in the 45th over, but Vipraj Nigam played a cameo of 30 off 20 balls to take India past the 300-run mark.[reference:28][reference:29] India eventually finished at 319/9 in 50 overs.Source: Hindustan Times, NT News

Chasing 320 runs for victory, Afghanistan A needed a strong start. However, India A struck early. Medium pacer Yash Thakur got the prized wicket of opener Hassan Eisakhil, caught by Ruturaj Gaikwad for 14.Source: Outlook India[reference:30][reference:31]

India A’s bowlers shared the wickets among themselves, with five different bowlers getting into the act. Anukul Roy dismissed Faisal Shinozada for 46 runs.[reference:32] Nishant Sindhu removed captain Imran Mir for 32 runs.[reference:33] Anshul Kamboj sent back Khalid Taniwal for 13.[reference:34] Yash Thakur added another wicket to his tally, taking out Hassan Eisakhil.[reference:35] And Vipraj Nigam dismissed the set Bahir Shah for 57 runs.Source: Bhaskar[reference:36]

Bahir Shah, who had been the anchor of the chase, played a fighting knock of 57 runs before he was caught by Suryansh Shedge off Vipraj Nigam.[reference:37] He had earlier launched a sweep over mid-wicket for a statement six,[reference:38] but his dismissal left Afghanistan A at 196/5 in 31 overs, still needing 124 runs from 19 overs.[reference:39]

Mohammad Ishaq and Farmanullah Safi were at the crease, hoping to stage a late rescue act.[reference:40]