Dramatic ending India A vs Sri Lanka A match in the ongoing tri-nation series has generated plenty of talking points, from the Super Over controversy to heated exchanges between the players. However, one of the most memorable moments happened long after the match ended Sri Lanka the captain waited to meet the young man of Indian inclination in person Vaibhav Suryavanshi.
The 15-year-old teenager has attracted attention in the last few months after his sensation IPL 2026 season. While expectations remained high after arriving in Sri Lanka, the youngster found the runs tougher during the ongoing tournament. After another disappointing outing in Dambulla, the unlikely encounter gave the talented prospect some timely encouragement.
Young Vaibhav Suryavanshi seeks blessings from Sri Lanka’s former captain
Former Sri Lanka captain Anura Tennekoon It was reported that he remained outside the India A dressing room for about an hour after the end of the match. While most players, officials and spectators left the field, the veteran cricketer waited patiently for an opportunity to speak to Suryavanshi. When the youngster finally emerged from the dressing room, he immediately went to Tenneku, bent down to touch the former Sri Lankan captain’s feet as a sign of respect and then shared a brief but meaningful conversation with the veteran.
Tennekoon, who captained Sri Lanka in his early years of ODI cricket, was full of praise for the teenager and urged him to stay focused on his cricket. The former skipper also acknowledged that every young cricketer goes through tough times and offered guidance to Suryavanshi, who listened attentively and was grateful for the advice.
“You focus on your game and cut out the extraneous noise” Tennekoon said to Suryavanshi.
IPL performances leave a lasting impression
Tennekoon revealed that he has closely watched Suryavanshi’s exploits in IPL 2026 and was particularly impressed by the young batsman’s fearless approach throughout the tournament. Suryavanshi, for his part, seems humbled by the praise from one of Sri Lanka’s former captains.
The accolade comes after a remarkable IPL campaign in which Suryavanshi finished as the tournament’s leading run-scorer with 776 runs and established himself as one of Indian cricket’s brightest young prospects.
“I was impressed with his batting in the IPL. And to hit those sixes and fours the way he did is incredible. I hope he continues like that.” he told Sportstar.
Tough outing for India A in Dambulla
The tip came shortly after a dramatic encounter between India A and Sri Lanka A. India A posted 265 after recovering from the first challenge. Suryansh Shedgebut Sri Lanka matched their total to make A Super Over. Sadeera Samarawickrama Leading the home team’s chase with 93 points, he ensured that the competition went to the bottom.
The match was surrounded by tension in the closing stages with discussions involving the India A captain Tilak Varma and umpires before and during the Super Over match. Sri Lanka A eventually won the tie-break, leaving India A with their second defeat of the competition.
Suryavanshi endured a frustrating day with the bat, managing just 21 runs in the main innings before being able to make a significant impact during the Super Over chase. Despite the setback, Suryavanshi remains one of the most exciting young talents in Indian cricket and is still considered a strong candidate for a future senior national call-up.
