Cricket – India A Squad Reaches Sri Lanka for Tri-Series Challenge
Cricket – India A has arrived in Sri Lanka ahead of a crucial limited-overs tri-series that will provide several young players with an opportunity to impress on the international stage. The tournament is scheduled to take place at the Rangiri Dambulla International Cricket Stadium from June 9 to June 21 and will feature India A, Sri Lanka A, and Afghanistan A.
Team Arrives for Key Tournament
Led by Tilak Varma, the Indian contingent landed in Sri Lanka on Friday as preparations gathered pace for the upcoming competition. The opening fixture will see India A face hosts Sri Lanka A on June 9, while Afghanistan A completes the three-team lineup. The championship match is set to be played on June 21.
Sri Lanka Cricket welcomed the visiting squad and shared photographs of several players upon their arrival, including Tilak Varma, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, and Anukul Roy. The board also expressed excitement about the tournament, highlighting the opportunity for emerging cricketers to showcase their abilities.
Changes Made to the Squad
The Indian team underwent a couple of notable alterations before departing for Sri Lanka. One of the changes came after all-rounder Harsh Dubey was selected for India’s Test and One-Day squads for the Afghanistan series. His elevation created a vacancy in the India A setup, resulting in Anukul Roy being brought into the squad.
Another adjustment involved the leadership group. Ruturaj Gaikwad was appointed vice-captain after Riyan Parag was ruled out because of a hamstring injury. Parag had been managing the issue during the closing stages of IPL 2026 while captaining Rajasthan Royals.
Rehabilitation Plan for Riyan Parag
Following his withdrawal from the tournament, Parag will now focus on recovery and rehabilitation. The talented all-rounder is expected to undergo treatment and conditioning work at the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru as he aims to regain full fitness.
His absence creates an opportunity for other players in the squad to take on greater responsibility during the tournament and strengthen their credentials for higher honours.
Young Talent Eager to Impress
The tri-series is expected to serve as an important platform for several promising cricketers. Alongside experienced names such as Tilak Varma, Ruturaj Gaikwad, and Anshul Kamboj, a number of emerging talents will be closely watched.
Youngsters including Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Priyansh Arya, Prabhsimran Singh, Ayush Badoni, and Nishant Sindhu will be aiming to make a strong impact against quality opposition. Performances in this tournament could play a significant role in shaping future selection discussions.
Coaching Group Named
The India A side will also benefit from an experienced support staff during the Sri Lanka tour. Hrishikesh Kanitkar, Sunil Joshi, Lakshmipathy Balaji, and Shubhadeep Ghosh are set to be part of the coaching setup for the competition.
With a blend of established domestic performers and rising prospects, the team enters the tri-series looking to gain valuable match experience and build momentum in a competitive environment.
India A Squad for Sri Lanka Tri-Series
Tilak Varma (captain), Ruturaj Gaikwad (vice-captain), Priyansh Arya, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Ayush Badoni, Nishant Sindhu, Suryansh Shedge, Prabhsimran Singh (wicketkeeper), Kumar Kushagra (wicketkeeper), Vipraj Nigam, Yash Thakur, Yudhvir Singh, Anshul Kamboj, Arshad Khan, and Anukul Roy.