India A He enjoyed a memorable outing in the recently concluded one-day tri-nation series Sri Lanka A and Afghanistan A. led Tilak Varmathe side showed impressive consistency throughout the tournament and ended their campaign with a team win over Sri Lanka A in the final.
The tournament also provided a platform for several young players to make a strong impression. While some performances have garnered widespread praise, several players have come under scrutiny from fans. Former India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin now focused on the debate on two of India’s most talked about youngsters.
Ravichandran Ashwin backs Tilak Varma amid strike rate criticism
India A scored a stunning 377/9 in the final against Sri Lanka A thanks to a sensational innings. Vaibhav Suryavanshiscored 94 off just 29 deliveries. While the teenage batsman’s explosive knocks dominated the headlines, some fans questioned Tilak’s scoring rate after the skipper made 67 off 90 balls. Ashwin, however, felt the criticism was misplaced. Speaking on YouTube channel Ash Ki Baat, the veteran spinner explained that Tilak played a crucial supporting role while Suryavanshi attacked from the other end.
“I also noticed a few comments about Tilak Varma’s batting speed. He bowled with a bit of a slow batting speed. I’m thinking how does this hate come about? He’s performing, isn’t he? Vaibhav Suryavanshi batted fast and Tilak Varma completed it and got a big score.” Ashwin said.
Tilak had an excellent tournament with the bat and became India A’s leading run-scorer. The left-hander amassed 275 runs in five innings and scored four half-centuries as he led the side to the title. His performances have already won him accolades at the international level, with the youngster recently named the vice-captain of India’s T20I side for the upcoming tour to Ireland.
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Ashwin comes to Vaibhav Suryavanshi’s defense after the three-series controversy
Ashwin also addressed the criticism leveled at Suryavanshi following the on-field altercation during India A’s Super Over loss to Sri Lanka A earlier in the tournament. The 15-year-old prodigy was involved in a heated exchange with the Sri Lanka A player They wear Halambage before the situation briefly escalated. The incident caused discussions on social media, some fans questioned the behavior of the young man. However, Ashwin urged people to remember Suryavanshi’s age and avoid placing unrealistic expectations on a teenager who is still learning the ropes of professional cricket.
“Everyone says that this child should have shown a lot of maturity. Do we forget that we were once children? Do we forget that there are children like this in our family?” Ashwin noted.
Suryavanshi was one of the standout performers of the tournament and continued the rich vein of form that made him one of the biggest stories. IPL 2026. His fearless batting approach played a significant role in India A’s title-winning campaign. The young opener’s rise has been swift and the selectors have already rewarded him with India’s first senior call-up. Suryavanshi has been included in India’s upcoming T20I series against Ireland and England, where he will also represent the country in the competition. 2026 Asian Games.
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