Gaikwad smashes century as India A edge Sri Lanka thriller in 2026 ODI

Ruturaj Gaikwad scored 101 not out to lead India A to a 277-run total before their bowlers restricted Sri Lanka A to 269 for an 8-run victory.

Teen sensation makes debut impact The arrival of 15-year-old Sooryavanshi in Sri Lanka three days ago sparked excitement among fans, officials and media alike. His first innings lasted just a short while but left observers eager for more. On debut, he struck a boundary off his very first ball, a fierce pull over the infield, before adding three more fours in a 12-ball cameo worth 14 runs. His innings concluded in the fourth over when a lofted shot off seamer Mohamed Shiraz was pouched by captain Sahan Arachchige with a sharp diving catch. ## Sooryavanshi's final-over dismissal Sooryavanshi has three remaining group-stage matches, plus a potential final if India A progress, to recover from this setback before heading to Ireland. There, he will join the senior team for the upcoming T20I series. ## Gaikwad steps into breach with calm authority Ruturaj Gaikwad earned an unexpected call-up to Sri Lanka after Riyan Parag withdrew due to a hamstring injury, and was handed the vice-captaincy as a result. On Tuesday, he seized the chance to prove his adaptability in the No. 4 role with a composed 101 from 114 balls, anchoring India A's total of 277. This performance underscored Gaikwad's reputation in the format, with his most recent ODI hundred coming in December 2025 against South Africa, where he shared a 195-run stand with Virat Kohli in Raipur. ## Patient approach pays off on slow pitch The match unfolded on a slow surface where Sri Lanka A's spinners dictated the middle overs, prompting Gaikwad to focus on rotating strike rather than going for big hits. Despite scoring just six fours and three sixes, he anchored a crucial 150-run fourth-wicket partnership alongside captain Tilak Varma. Gaikwad was reprieved at 49 when Niroshan Dickwella failed to complete a stumping off legspinner Vijaykanth Viyaskanth, and he immediately punished the next delivery—a full toss—with a six over deep midwicket to reach his half-century. ## Gaikwad sets rapid List A milestone The century marked his 21st List A hundred, achieved in only his 96th match, making him the quickest player to reach the milestone. The previous record holder, Pakistan's Khurram Manzoor, had taken 130 matches to achieve the same feat. ## Sahan Arachchige leads Sri Lanka's resistance Sahan Arachchige celebrated his half-century during a determined innings for Sri Lanka A. His batting efforts kept the hosts in contention despite early pressure from India A's attack. ## Shedge provides late flurry with bat and ball India's search for a seam-bowling all-rounder beyond Hardik Pandya has recently focused on Nitish Kumar Reddy and Shivam Dube, but Suryansh Shedge is emerging as a promising option. The Mumbai all-rounder sealed India A's innings with an unbeaten 26 off 14 balls, adding late firepower. With the ball, he generated appreciable seam movement and bounce in a lively opening spell, troubling Sri Lanka A's batters despite ending wicketless at 41 from eight overs. ## Anukul Roy's spin triggers collapse Anukul Roy reinforced his reputation as a highly-rated spin option, finishing with figures of 2 for 49 from ten overs. Though his figures understated his influence, he broke an 86-run stand by inducing Sadeera Samarawickrama into a mistimed loft to long-on. In his very next over, he accounted for Ravindu Fernando through a caught and bowled off a leading edge. These breakthroughs shifted Sri Lanka A's innings from steady progress to a dramatic tailspin, culminating in their dismissal for 269 in the 49th over.