India A vice-captain Ruturaj Gaikwad has defended his captain Tilak Varma over the cautious approach in the middle overs of tri-series clash against Sri Lanka A on June 9. India A had lost three wickets for 69 runs and there was a need to consolidate in the middle overs. While Gaikwad played the anchor knock, Varma even struggled to rotate strike. After the 28th over, he was batting on 18 from 52 deliveries which invited criticism. But, centurion Gaikwad defended the approach by saying that they did not want a new batter to come in the middle overs as it was a different surface to what they are used to at home.
“The conditions were...not what we are used to playing at home...wind factor as well. So it was important that one of the set batters played throughout the innings and glad that it happened today,” Gaikwad said in the post-match presentation as India A beat Sri Lanka A by eight runs in Dambulla.
“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 (Varma) as well,” he added.
Varma eventually accelerated with a couple of fours of Sahan Arachchige. While Gaikwad reached his century from 112 balls, Varma scored 60 runs from 97 balls. This was Varma’s 11th fifty in List A cricket. They shared a 150-run partnership for the fourth wicket from 185 deliveries. Eventually, India A went on to post 277/6. Ayush Badoni contributed with an 18-ball 24 whereas Suryansh Shedge remained unbeaten for a 14-ball 26.
Collective bowling effort leads India A to victory
In the run chase, Sri Lanka A got off to a good start. But Badoni's double strike dismissed both openers — Niroshan Dickwella and Avishka Fernando — in their 40s. Sadeera Samarawickrama contributed with 46 whereas Arachchige scored 74 runs from 72 balls. Anukul Roy, Vipraj Nigam struck twice whereas Arshad Khan bowled brilliantly in death overs as Sri Lanka were bowled out for 269 in 48.5 overs, losing the game by eight runs.
India A will now face Afghanistan A at the same venue on June 11.