Vaibhav Sooryavanshi produced a moment of brilliance in the field during the tri-series clash against Afghanistan A on June 17 in Dambulla. India A tightened
their grip on the contest as they secured a commanding 101-run victory and booked their place in the tournament final.
The stunning effort came in the sixth over of Afghanistan A’s chase. Fast bowler Anshul Kamboj delivered a back-of-a-length ball on middle stump to Khalid Taniwal. The batter appeared to be early on the shot as the ball held up slightly off the surface. Attempting a flick, Taniwal chipped the ball into the air towards the infield.
Stationed nearby, Sooryavanshi reacted instantly and leapt to his left in an attempt to complete a one-handed catch. Although he managed to get his hand to the ball, he could not hold onto it on the first attempt. However, the youngster showed remarkable awareness.
Sooryavanshi pulls off a stunner! 🤯
— Sony LIV (@SonyLIV) June 17, 2026
Watch the #TalentTVCup LIVE on #SonyLIV & #SonySportsNetwork 📺 pic.twitter.com/lpQwBXX79c
As the ball popped out, he quickly turned around and dived forward to grab it safely on the rebound with both hands before it could touch the ground. The incredible catch sent Taniwal back to the pavilion for 13 runs and drew applause from teammates and spectators alike.
Earlier, India A posted a formidable total of 319/9 in their allotted 50 overs after being asked to bat. Several batters made valuable contributions, with Priyansh Arya scoring 58, Tilak Varma adding 59, and Kumar Kushagra also chipping in with 58 runs. For Afghanistan A, Faridoon Dawoodzai, Abdollah Ahmadzai, and Farmanullah picked up two wickets each.
In reply, Afghanistan A struggled to keep pace with the required run rate and were eventually bowled out for 218 in 36.5 overs. Bahir Shah was the top scorer with 57 runs, but lacked substantial support from the other end. India A spinner Nishant Sindhu starred with the ball, claiming 4/31 to earn the Player of the Match award, while Yash Thakur contributed with two wickets as India A sealed a convincing win.
