India A vs Afghanistan A, 2nd Match, Tri Nation A Series in Sri Lanka 2026 - CommentaryINDA vs AFGA, 2nd Match, Tri Nation A Series in Sri Lanka 2026 - Commentary

This series is nicely poised now. If the hosts manage to beat Afghanistan A, things could get even more interesting. Afghanistan never stops producing quality talent and this win will hold them in good stead ahead of their game against Sri Lanka A. That's it from this game. We will see you all again soon. Take care!

India A did have a good game with the bat with Prabhsimran, Rutu, Tilak, Vaibhav and Suryansh coming good. In fact they raced to 92/2 in the powerplay and with solid efforts in the middle and end overs, they made a massive 349. But with the ball they but couldn't stop Afghanistan A's strong response. After Arshad and Anukul struck in quick succession, the bowlers couldn't trouble the batters much and the rain prematurely ending the game didn't help either. Because a wicket or a few dots can tilt things in favour of the fielding side with the DLS method. Imran and Bahir controlled things pretty well to seal the deal.

Imran Mir | PoTM: Good to win the first game. Hassan and me, we played natural cricket. We believed in ourselves. (Thoughts when the overs were reduced) What we were thinking was like, we'll go for the chase even at the beginning when we won the toss, so that was the plan. We were thinking to go long, as long as we can, we were never thinking of the game getting this short. You need to be prepared whenever anything happens. In the game of cricket, anything can happen and you need to be prepared for it. (On the surface) It was a good surface to bat on. During the first innings, our bowlers weren't as good as they should have been. But it was good to bat and we won.

Tilak Varma: (Where did it go wrong?) Honestly we batted well and 349 was a par score on this pitch. But unfortunately with how DLS works, game reduced to 39 overs but we were still in the game. Unfortunately the rain came down. (Was the pitch so good for batters that the bowlers couldn't breakthrough?) We got a couple of changes here and there but just short of the fielders. Afghanistan played well but at the same point we were thinking that the game will go till 39 overs. If it had gone till 39 overs game things could have been different. (Is bowling a concern?) I would not say it is a concern but we will go back to the drawing board and come back stronger in the next game. Our goal is to win the next two games and play the final.

18:05 Local Time, 12:35 GMT: Match has been called off and Afghanistan A have actually won this game on DLS method.

17:40 Local Time, 12:10 GMT: Earlier in the day, rain came down to curtail this game to 49 overs per side, and then before the second innings started, the rain ate into overs again, leaving Afghanistan A a target of 294 in 38 overs. This break now will further trim the overs but there will definitely be a result. Afghanistan A will not mind if the rain continues as they are ahead on DLS par by 3 runs. Assume that an over will be docked every four minutes.

17:28 Local Time, 11:56 GMT: It is quite dark and the rain is coming down and Afghanistan A are ahead by 3 runs on DLS par at this point when play was stopped. Oh the rain is quite heavy now and the groundstaff are rushing for more covers.

Appeal for a runout, sent upstairs. Was Imran Mir back in time? The replay is not really clear so he asks for another angle. The batter may escape by a frame. Not out!