India A Secures Final Spot with Dominant 101-Run Victory Over Afghanistan A

India A powered into the final of the tri-series with a commanding 101-run victory over Afghanistan A in their decisive league fixture on June 19, 2026. Batting first, India A posted a formidable 319 runs, built on half-centuries from Priyansh Arya (58 off 42 balls), Tilak Varma (59 off 75 balls), and Kumar Kushagra (58 off 67 balls). The innings featured a strong 104-run partnership between Kushagra and captain Varma that stabilized the middle order, while a brisk 41-run seventh-wicket stand added valuable runs in the closing overs.

India A's opening pair of Arya and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi provided a solid foundation with a 75-run partnership in eight overs, though Sooryavanshi's unbeaten 38 off 28 balls was marked by early escapes. Arya took full advantage of the platform, fluently striking eight fours and a six before falling to Faridoon Dawoodzai while attempting a cut. Afghanistan A's bowling attack, led by Abdullah Ahmadzai who took 2 for 62, proved insufficient to restrict India A's scoring.

Chasing 320, Afghanistan A made a bright start through captain Imran Mir's 32 off 27 balls but struggled to maintain momentum, losing three wickets inside the first ten overs. Middle-order batsmen Faisal Shinozada and Bahir Shah briefly resurrected hopes with an 87-run partnership, but Anukul Roy's breakthrough dismissal of Shinozada shifted the balance decisively in India A's favour. Bahir Shah struck a half-century with 57 runs but could not capitalize further, and the innings collapsed as Afghanistan A were bowled out for 218 in 36.5 overs. Nishant Sindhu's destructive spell of 4 for 31 proved the difference, with Yash Tahakur adding 2 for 48.

The victory assures India A a place in the final, while Afghanistan A now faces an uphill battle. The Afghans must win their remaining match against Sri Lanka A while overturning a near-impossible net run-rate deficit to have any chance of progressing.