The India A versus Sri Lanka A came to a thrilling but unpleasant end as players from both teams were involved in an ugly spat. Sri Lankan players while celebrating said a few words to Suryansh Shedge which provoked him. Later, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi got involved too and pushed Vishen Halambage which escalated the spat even further. But, amidst the chaos, Sri Lanka’s 79-year-old former cricketer Anura Tennekoon, who captained them in four games in 1970s, waited patiently to meet 15-year-old Sooryavanshi who has the cricketing world talking about his talent. Tennekoon called him a 'generational talent'.
"You focus on your game and cut out the outside noise," Tennekoon told him as quoted by Sportstar.
"Today, unfortunately, you couldn't get going. But that's part of the game, you can't get going every day," he added.
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When Sooryavanshi was named in the India A squad for the tri-series in Sri Lanka, it led to a buzz. The live broadcast for the tri-series was arranged as Sooryavanshi attracts eye balls wherever he goes, especially after he broke records and won several awards at the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026.
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Who is Anura Tennekoon?
Tennekoon is considered one of the great batters in Sri Lanka side in early years before they got the Test status. He led them in 1975 and 1979 edition of ODI World Cups, playing four games and scoring 137 runs, including a half-century against New Zealand in losing cause. He led them to victory in the ICC Associate Members World Cup final in 1979 as well.
He played 61 first-class games, scoring 3,481 runs at an average of 36.26. He has five centuries and 19 fifties in the red-ball format. Later, in early 2000s, he also served as Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) board's chief executive.
Maiden List A fifty for India A eludes Sooryavanshi
Sooryavanshi is yet to get going on the tour. From three games, he has scored 79 runs at an average of 26.33 and strike rate of 164.58. His best came against Afghanistan A with a 22-ball 44. On June 15, the young opener got out trying to play an aerial shot off Sri Lanka A captain and off-spinner Sahan Arachchige.
Later, in the super over, he walked out to bat with Suryansh Shedge who had scored his maiden List A half-century earlier. Shedge took the strike in the super over run chase and faced three deliveries scoring as many runs. The southpaw got the strike but could score six runs from remaining deliveries as India fell short of eight runs in the super over.
Another chance for Sooryavanshi
Now, India A face Afghanistan A in a must-win game. Even if they beat Afghanistan A, they won't be guaranteed a spot in the final which is scheduled to be played on June 21. Currently, India A are placed second on the points table with one win from three games. The only good thing for them is their net run rate (NRR) is superior to Afghanistan A. If they beat Afghanistan A by a good margin, they have a good chance of reaching the final.