India A clinched the Sri Lanka A Team Tri-Series OD 2026 title with a 66-run win over Sri Lanka A in the final, riding a breathtaking early assault from Sooryavanshi and a decisive all-round impact from Anukul Roy. India A posted 377 for 9 before bowling Sri Lanka A out for 311 in the 48th over.
Sooryavanshi arrived in the final after a modest run of four starts for 117 runs, but he flipped the script in emphatic fashion, producing a turbocharged innings that put Sri Lanka A under immediate pressure. While India A threatened to push beyond 400, late wickets slowed their momentum, making Roy’s finishing burst crucial in shaping a total that ultimately proved out of reach.
Sooryavanshi’s blitz sets the tone, Roy rescues the finish
Sooryavanshi’s innings was defined by instant impact. Each of his first five balls went to the boundary, and he brought up his half-century off just 11 deliveries, putting a record-fast List A fifty firmly in the spotlight. India A surged to 132 in 8.5 overs, with Sooryavanshi keeping the fastest List A century within sight before his dismissal in the ninth over.
He struck ten fours and eight sixes, falling for 94 while attempting another maximum—caught at mid-off after failing to get enough elevation. The wicket went to Sri Lanka A captain and offspinner Sahan Arachchige, the second time in two matches that Arachchige had removed him. This time, Sooryavanshi backed away looking to clear the infield but found Vijaykanth Viyaskanth stationed at mid-off.
With Sooryavanshi at the crease, India A scored 35% of their eventual 377. After he departed, the innings slowed significantly: the rest of the batting added 245 in 41.1 overs, and the prospect of a 400-plus total began to fade.
In the middle overs, Tilak Varma and Ruturaj Gaikwad provided consolidation through an 84-run third-wicket partnership. Tilak made 67 from 90 balls, while Gaikwad contributed 40. But after Tilak’s dismissal, India A lost three quick wickets and faced the risk of being bowled out for under 350.
That danger was eased by Anukul Roy’s late onslaught. With India A having slipped to 334 for 8, Roy smashed 39 off 15 balls, hitting four sixes to lift the total to 377 for 9. Vipraj Nigam also chipped in with an entertaining 27, helping ensure India A had a sizeable target to defend. For Sri Lanka A, Sahan Arachchige returned figures of 2 for 39.
Thakur strikes early, India A close out with key wickets
Sri Lanka A’s chase required a major innings from the top order, but Yash Thakur dismantled their top three. Niroshan Dickwella was bowled while attempting to back away and hit over cover, Avishka Fernando edged to slip, and Nuwanidu Fernando flicked a leg-stump half-volley to the lone fielder at deep backward square leg.
Despite the early damage, Sri Lanka A found resistance through Sadeera Samarawickrama and later Wanuja Sahan. Samarawickrama scored 52 off 44 balls, but India A debutant Ashok Sharma removed him just as he was beginning to accelerate. Ashok impressed with pace and late movement even though he was taken for runs in his first spell.
Wanuja Sahan top-scored with 62 from 69 balls, keeping Sri Lanka A in the contest as wickets fell around him. A 77-run seventh-wicket partnership offered a late lifeline, but Roy’s left-arm spin produced a vital breakthrough when he dismissed the set Viyaskanth to break that stand.
The key moment arrived when Sahan was dismissed—an innings-ending blow to Sri Lanka A’s hopes. From there, India A’s bowlers finished the job, bowling Sri Lanka A out for 311 in the 48th over. Thakur led the wicket-taking with 3 for 45, while Nigam claimed 3 for 60, underlining a complete bowling effort to match the batting fireworks that had set up the final.