Sri Lanka A vs India A, 1st Match, Tri Nation A Series in Sri Lanka 2026 - CommentarySLA vs INDA, 1st Match, Tri Nation A Series in Sri Lanka 2026 - Commentary

India A have begun their Tri-Nation Series campaign on a winning note and will look to build on this momentum in the matches ahead. Their next challenge comes against Afghanistan A in a couple of days. Until then, it's goodbye from us.

Tilak Varma: Definitely, the way Sahan had batted was really good, and I think when Anshul bowled that yorker and Sahan got out, that was a crucial wicket and the game turned there, and the way especially if you see our opening bowlers Arshad and Kamboj haven't bowled that great in the first spell, but the way they finished the game was tremendous to watch. (Did you really think that the surface had changed or got better?) Honestly, the surface hasn' changed much. We thought that it will be even more slower in the second innings, but to be honest, the surface hasn't changed much. But as I said during the toss, 270 was good, but I think we'll just go to the drawing board and we'll just see how to bowl in good areas and we'll come back in the next game. (Your thoughts on this series?) Yeah, I've already said before the tournament that playing in Sri Lanka and against Sri Lanka and Afghanistan, they are really good sides and especially playing in Sri Lanka, they'll be really giving good competition in the international level as well, if you see the last series when we played against Sri Lanka, they won the ODI series. But we know how competitive it will be and we prepared for that, and I'm glad that first game it is on our side.

Sahan Arachchige: I think after I got out and after that we had the game (in our hands) again, but unfortunately Wanjua got run out. That's the point I think we lost the match. (You lost two quick wickets, do you think that dented the confidence of you getting out?) Yeah, that also we had a problem in there as well, but after that I think we managed again. I think after that Wanuja got run out, we didn't have a chance. (How was the surface when you batted?) We thought earlier that we'll be getting spin in the evening, but I think when I was batting it didn't, so the wicket is good.

Ruturaj Gaikwad | Player of the Match: I didn't know any of the stats that you're talking, but obviously good to get a hundred. I felt, you know, the conditions were slightly, not what we are used to be playing at home. So definitely, wind factor as well. So it was important that one of the set batters play throughout the innings and glad that it happened today. (How did you make the adjustment?) Definitely try and rotate strike as much as possible. We had lost three wickets as well. So at any stage, we didn't want a new batter to face the middle overs where it would be challenging for him. So that's what the talk was with Tilak as well. Let's bat as deep as possible. And we know that we can score good runs at the death, but I think credit to Sri Lankan bowlers as well. They bowled really well. They pulled it back really well. We were, you know, at one stage, we were looking at around 290 or above that, but they pulled it back really well.

18:11 Local Time, 12:41 GMT, 18:11 IST: India A have kicked off their Tri-Nation Series campaign with a well-earned victory, thanks to some excellent death bowling by Arshad Khan and Anshul Kamboj. Earlier in the day, India A posted a challenging total, built around a superb century from Ruturaj Gaikwad and a valuable supporting innings from Tilak Varma. Chasing the target, Sri Lanka A got off to a strong start as Niroshan Dickwella and Avishka Fernando laid a solid foundation with an impressive opening partnership. Although India A struck back with a few wickets following that opening stand, Sri Lanka regained control through a crucial stand between Sadeera Samarawickrama and skipper Sahan Arachchige for the fourth wicket. Samarawickrama looked set for a big score but gifted his wicket away with an untimely shot. Arachchige fought hard with a fine knock, but his dismissal at a crucial stage proved costly. Kamboj removed the Sri Lankan skipper, while Arshad Khan's outstanding 49th over tightened India's grip on the contest. India A then held their nerve to seal a thrilling 8-run victory. Stay around for the presentations..

Arshad Khan to Mohamed Shiraz, THATS OUT!! Caught!!

Arshad Khan to Mohamed Shiraz, THATS OUT!! Run Out!!

Long-off moves inside the circle

Arshad Khan to V Viyaskanth, THATS OUT!! Lbw!!

Equation: 10 runs needed in 2 overs, Sri Lanka have 3 wickets remaining. Arshad Khan to bowl the 49th over. Tilak Varma making a few changes in the field. Arshad Khan is not happy with the field I guess, he makes further changes