Tri-series: India-A hopeful of top-order firing in the summit clash

The road to the tri-nation final has been anything but straightforward for both India-A and Sri Lanka-A. Having already shared two fiercely contested encounters, the teams now face off one last time with silverware on the line.

Sri Lanka-A pushed India-A hard in both meetings, with the most recent clash going in favour of the home side after a Super Over. But with the title on the line, India-A will hope its top-order, particularly teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, finally delivers.

Fresh from a stunning IPL 2026 campaign that earned him the Orange Cap, Sooryavanshi has endured a lean run in the competition so far, scoring 117 runs in four innings. Yet the team management has firmly backed him. On the eve of the final, despite it being an optional training session, captain Tilak Varma, Prabhsimran Singh and Sooryavanshi spent considerable time in the nets at the Rangiri International Stadium, fine-tuning their preparations for the biggest game of the tournament.

While the India-A batters will need to be more consistent, the team could consider bringing in hit-the-deck pacer Ashok Sharma. However, much will depend on the spin attack making the most of conditions that have increasingly favoured slow bowlers throughout the series.

For Sri Lanka-A, the challenge has been closing out games. Having let winning positions slip more than once during the tournament, the host will be keen to avoid a repeat in the final. Avishka Fernando arrives with confidence after his century against Afghanistan-A, while Niroshan Dickwella’s experience at the top will be crucial. The middle-order, too, will need to hold its nerve under pressure.

The last time these teams met, tempers flared, emotions spilled over and the result was decided only after a dramatic Super Over. On Sunday, though, both sides will look to leave the noise behind and focus on the bigger prize — lifting the trophy in front of what is expected to be another lively crowd.