After the tri-series began, most eyes were on young star Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. Yet once play ended in Dambulla, it wasn’t the freshness of age that won it. Calm from long seasons past guided India A through instead.

A shaky start marked Sooryavanshi’s debut in one-day cricket for India A, scoring just 14 runs. Still, his team pulled through despite a nail-biting conclusion versus Sri Lanka A. The target was 278, and at first, the home side moved smoothly toward it. Then everything unraveled – four wickets tumbled within ten balls under sudden pressure.

Victory by eight runs came when few expected it moments before.

Ruturaj Gaikwad anchors, Sri Lanka falter

A shift happened when Sahan Arachchige, leading Sri Lanka A, struck 74 off 72 deliveries, which looked like a decisive innings. Helped by solid work up front, he pushed his side close to winning. Then, out of nowhere, Anshul Kamboj found the perfect yorker, ending it all.

Out went that wicket, clearing space for India A to step forward. With just composure required, Sri Lanka A folded when tension crept in. In one frantic over, Arshad Khan found edge after edge, chaos blooming among the tailenders.

What looked like an easy run down twisted sharply into collapse.

Openers steadied things when trouble first stirred. Ruturaj Gaekwad, hitting 101 off 112 deliveries, shaped much of India A’s 277 for six. His calm knock marked the twenty-first time he reached triple figures in List A play. Stability followed once shaky beginnings faded into the background.

Off to a shaky start, India lost Sooryavanshi early. Then came the second wicket – Prabhsimran Singh gone too, with the score barely past fifteen in under five overs.

Now trailing at 16 for two, things looked tight. Into that space stepped Priyansh Arya, swinging hard, reaching 32 off just 32 balls. But momentum died when confusion between him and Gaikwad ended in a run-out.

A gusty afternoon made batting tough when Tilak Varma walked in at 69 for three. He found company soon, Gaikwad already holding firm at the other end. Together, they slowed things down instead of rushing. The pitch helped the bowlers, yet they stayed calm. Rather than swinging hard, they moved between wickets cleverly. Shot choices were tight, almost quiet in their precision.

Patience became their strongest tool.

Ruturaj Gaikwad found rhythm, reaching fifty off 66 balls, then picking up speed. While he pushed forward, Tilak held steady, slowly building towards his half-century from 86 deliveries. With every run they added together – 150 for the fourth wicket, the game began tilting India’s way. Momentum changed without a single loud moment.

One run at a time, Gaikwad got to his century off a spin bowler’s delivery – Wanuj Sahan – but then tried lifting it high and lost his wicket. Soon after, Tilak walked back too, having scored 60 useful runs over nearly a hundred balls.

A sudden burst near the end lifted the score, powered by Ayush Badoni and Suryansh Shedge putting together 46 fast runs. Hitting boundaries early, Badoni made 24 off just 18 balls. On the other hand, Shedge finished strong, standing tall at 26 not out from 14. Their effort carried India A past 270.

A start full of promise came from Niroshan Dickwella, back behind the stumps and swinging well for 47. Besides him, Avishka Fernando added 45 without fuss. Together they built a 93-run opening flurry that tilted things Sri Lanka’s way, until both chased risky shots at Badoni’s casual spin and lost their wickets.

Still, Arachchige held firm with a smooth flow of runs, keeping Sri Lanka A in control. Yet near the end, small mistakes crept in – loose shots, rising tension, and suddenly everything tilted sideways.

India A’s win unfolded slowly. Ruturaj Gaikwad laid the base early. Holding steady later, Ayush Badoni stayed calm under pressure. Then came Anukul Roy, quietly keeping hopes alive. When the moment arrived, Arshad Khan stepped forward – striking hard at just the right time.

That victory felt out of reach until Sri Lanka A stumbled right at the end. Now, eyes shift towards the clash with Afghanistan A, set for June 11. Momentum swings India A’s way after pulling off what looked unlikely. Nerves cracked under pressure, opening space for a turnaround few saw coming.