India A Reach Tri-Series Final After Crushing Afghanistan A By 101 Runs

Pranali Naik

June 17, 2026

India A vs Afghanistan A ended with a dominant 101-run victory as India A secured a place in the Tri-Series final. The side posted 319/8 before bowling Afghanistan A out for 218 in Dambulla.

The win came through strong performances with both bat and ball. Several players made valuable contributions, while Nishant Sindhu produced the standout display of the match.

Take a look at how India A built a winning total, the key moments from Afghanistan A’s chase, and the performance that helped secure a place in the final.

India A vs Afghanistan A: Collective Batting Effort Sets Up Big Total For India

India A produced a disciplined batting performance after being asked to bat first. Contributions came from different stages of the innings and helped the team reach a challenging total.

Here are the key batting performances that powered India A to 319/8 in 50 overs.

Priyansh Arya And Vaibhav Sooryavanshi Provide Fast Start

Priyansh Arya gave India A the ideal start with 58 off 42 balls. The opener struck nine fours and a six while maintaining a brisk scoring rate.

Priyansh Arya
Source: Cricinfo

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi continued the chase with 38 from 28 deliveries. He hit four boundaries and two sixes as India A kept the pressure on Afghanistan A during the powerplay.

Ruturaj Gaikwad Helps Maintain Momentum

After the openers departed, Ruturaj Gaikwad ensured India A did not lose their way. The right-hander scored a valuable 30 off 31 balls and kept the scoreboard moving during a crucial phase.

His contribution helped bridge the gap between the aggressive start and the middle-order consolidation that followed.

Tilak Varma And Kumar Kushagra Stabilize The Innings

Captain Tilak Varma anchored the innings with a composed 59 off 75 balls. His knock included five fours and helped India A maintain control through the middle overs.

Tilak Verma at India A vs Afghanistan A 5th match
Source: ESPNcricinfo

Kumar Kushagra provided excellent support with 58 from 67 deliveries. The wicketkeeper-batter added a crucial 104-run partnership with Tilak Varma as India A built the foundation for a strong finish.

Vipraj Nigam Adds Late Acceleration

India A finished strongly thanks to an important contribution from Vipraj Nigam. He scored 30 runs from just 20 balls and struck four boundaries during his innings.

Nishant Sindhu also added a vital unbeaten 21*, helping India A cross the 300-run mark and finish on 319/8 from their 50 overs.

Afghanistan A Shows Promise But Falls Short In India A vs Afghanistan A Chase

Afghanistan A began the chase with positive intent and produced a few encouraging partnerships. However, regular wickets prevented the side from building a sustained challenge.

Here are the key moments from Afghanistan A’s innings.

Bahir Shah And Faisal Shinozada Lead The Resistance

Bahir Shah played Afghanistan A’s best innings of the match, scoring 57 off 52 balls. He struck four fours and a six while trying to keep the chase alive.

Faisal Shinozada added 46 from 56 deliveries and offered valuable support in the middle order. The pair briefly steadied the innings, but the required rate continued to increase.

India A Keep Striking At Crucial Moments

India A made an early breakthrough when Yash Thakur dismissed Hassan Eisakhil. The wicket helped the bowling unit maintain control despite Afghanistan A’s positive approach.

India A team members during  India A vs Afghanistan A match
Source: NDTV Sports

The pressure increased as wickets continued to fall at regular intervals. Afghanistan A eventually lost all ten wickets for 218 in 36.5 overs, finishing 101 runs short of the target.

India A vs Afghanistan A: Nishant Sindhu Produces The Match-Winning Spell

Several India A players contributed to the victory, but Nishant Sindhu made the biggest impact with the ball. His spell ensured Afghanistan A never gained momentum during the chase.

The left-arm spinner finished with outstanding figures of 4/31 in 6.5 overs. He removed Imran Mir, Shams Ur Rahman, Abdullah Ahmadzai, and Zahir Khan as Afghanistan A’s innings unraveled.

Sindhu’s wickets came at crucial stages of the chase and helped bowl Afghanistan A out for 218 in 36.5 overs. His performance ultimately sealed India’s 101-run victory and earned him the Player of the Match award.

India A vs Afghanistan A: Key Match Stats

Here are the key numbers and performances from India’s 101-run victory over Afghanistan A.

StatValue
ResultIndia A won by 101 runs
India A319/8 (50 overs)
Afghanistan A218 all out (36.5 overs)
Player of the MatchNishant Sindhu
Top Scorer (India A)Tilak Varma (59)
Top Scorer (Afghanistan A)Bahir Shah (57)
Best Bowling FiguresNishant Sindhu (4/31)

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Conclusion

India A delivered one of their most complete performances of the Tri-Series at a crucial stage of the tournament. The 101-run victory over Afghanistan A secured their place in the final and strengthened their title hopes.

The batting unit laid the platform through contributions from Priyansh Arya, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Tilak Varma, Kumar Kushagra, and Vipraj Nigam.

That collective effort helped India A post a formidable total of 319/8 before the bowlers took control.

Nishant Sindhu’s four-wicket haul proved decisive as Afghanistan A were bowled out for 218. India A will now head into the Tri-Series final with momentum and confidence after a convincing all-round display.

Pranali Naik

Hello, I’m Pranali Naik, an English M.A. and professional SEO writer. As the voice behind Sports Chronicle, I transform fast-paced sports into engaging stories. I break down tactics, player profiles, and match strategies across global sports, bringing the drama of the game to life.

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