Key facts
- India A will face Afghanistan A in the Tri-Nation A Series in Sri Lanka on June 11, 2026.
- India A enters the match after defeating Sri Lanka A by eight runs.
- Afghanistan A will be playing their first match of the tournament.
- The match will be played at the Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium.
- The pitch is expected to slow down and assist bowlers, particularly spinners.
- India A is predicted to win the match due to greater depth in batting and bowling.
India A is set to face Afghanistan A in the Talent TV Cup Tri-Series in Dambulla on Thursday, June 11, 2026. India A enters the contest with momentum, having secured an eight-run victory over Sri Lanka A in their opening match, largely due to a century from vice-captain Ruturaj Gaikwad. This will be Afghanistan A's first match of the tournament.
The spotlight is expected to be on 15-year-old India A opener Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, who had a remarkable IPL 2026 campaign, scoring 776 runs for Rajasthan Royals. However, the pitch at the Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium is anticipated to be challenging, offering assistance to bowlers as it slows down throughout the game. This could make it difficult for Sooryavanshi to replicate his T20 form and reach a maiden List A century.
The match is scheduled to start at 10:00 AM IST and will be broadcast on Sony Sports Network, with streaming available on SonyLIV, FanCode, and YouTube. The weather forecast predicts hot conditions with minimal chance of rain, suggesting uninterrupted play.
The Dambulla pitch typically offers a balanced surface that becomes more favorable for bowlers as the match progresses. Pacers may find early movement, while spinners are expected to benefit from grip and turn later in the innings. Teams bowling first have historically had a slight advantage here.
India A's predicted playing XI includes Prabhsimran Singh, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Priyansh Arya, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Tilak Varma (c), Ayush Badoni, Suryansh Shedge, Anukul Roy, Vipraj Nigam, Arshad Khan, and Anshul Kamboj. Afghanistan A's likely lineup features Imran Mir (c), Mohammad Ishaq (wk), Hassan Eisakhil, Khalid Taniwal, Shams ur Rahman, Bahir Shah, Faisal Shinozada, Farmanullah Safi, Zahir Khan, Khalil Gurbaz, and Faridoon Dawoodzai.
Key players to watch include Ruturaj Gaikwad, who scored 101 in the last match, and Tilak Varma, who anchored the innings with 60 runs. For Afghanistan A, captain Imran Mir and spinner Zahir Khan are expected to be crucial.
India A are considered favorites to win the match, given their strong start and the depth of their squad. Afghanistan A possesses talented players capable of causing an upset, but India A appears better equipped to handle the conditions and pressure.