After winning the toss, skipper Tilak Varma opted to bat first, and his decision paid off. Openers Abhishek Sharma and Prabhsimran Singh provided a solid start, amassing a quick 68 runs in the Powerplay. Abhishek scored 35 runs off 22 balls, smashing five boundaries and two sixes, while Prabhsimran contributed a brisk 36 off 19 balls with three fours and three sixes.
Once the openers were dismissed in quick succession, Tilak Varma stepped up, top-scoring with 44 runs off 35 balls, featuring two fours and two sixes. He formed crucial partnerships, including a 38-run stand with Nehal Wadhera (25) for the third wicket and a record 43-run partnership for the fifth wicket with Ramandeep Singh (17), helping India A post a challenging total of 183/8 in their allotted 20 overs.
In reply, Pakistan Shaheens struggled early, losing two quick wickets to find themselves at 21/2. Yasir Khan (3) and Qasim Akram (27) steadied the innings with a partnership, but the breakthrough came from India A’s Player of the Match, Anshul Kamboj, who took 4 wickets for 33 runs. Kamboj dismissed key players, including Qamair Yousuf, and his early strikes set the tone for India A’s bowling effort.
Despite the efforts of Arafat Minhas, who fought valiantly with a score of 41 runs off 29 balls, Pakistan Shaheens struggled to build partnerships. The bowling from Rasikh Salam (2-30) and Nishant Sindhu (2-15) kept the pressure on the opposition, and Pakistan was eventually restricted to 176/7.
In the final overs, Pakistan needed 24 runs off 12 balls. However, a brilliant penultimate over from Salam and Kamboj’s wickets in the last over ensured India A held on for a thrilling seven-run victory.
This match highlighted the depth and resilience of India A, showcasing promising talents as they look forward to the upcoming challenges in the tournament.
