A tie, a Super Over and a night of controversy in Dambulla
The sun had long disappeared behind the hills surrounding the Rangiri International Stadium. Most grounds would have emptied by then. Not here. Schoolchildren and local cricket enthusiasts stayed glued to their seats, willing Sri Lanka-A home.
What followed was chaos.
Monday’s Tri-nation series fixture between India-A and Sri Lanka-A ended in a tie, but the drama was only beginning. As players gathered near the boundary rope, India-A captain Tilak Varma was keen to get on with the Super Over, repeatedly urging the umpires to proceed while insisting there was still enough time to complete it.
The Sri Lankan camp, however, was far less convinced. Discussions dragged on. Players, officials and match referees huddled together. Gestures became more animated. Minutes ticked by. By the time an agreement was reached, darkness had nearly descended over the ground.
Yet the Super Over went ahead.
Sources told Sportstar that the officials had informed the Indian team that play would be halted if the umpires felt the light was no longer fit for cricket. But despite visibility deteriorating steadily, the match continued, with fast bowlers allowed to operate in conditions that left many puzzled.
The confusion only deepened. A no-ball call on the final delivery of Sri Lanka-A’s Super Over sparked protests from the Indian camp, leading to another delay. More precious minutes slipped away.
By the time Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and Suryansh Shedge walked out to chase 17, visibility had become a serious concern. From the stands, the ball was difficult to pick up and several players appeared to be struggling as well. “ Yaar, ball dikh hi nahi raha hai (Mate, I can’t even see the ball),” one player was heard telling his teammates.
Yet, play continued.
India-A could not find the boundaries it needed and eventually fell short. Tempers then spilled over. Sooryavanshi was involved in a heated exchange with Vishen Halambage and a few Sri Lankan players, bringing an ugly end to an otherwise gripping contest.
The Indian support staff attempted to play down the incident, but the teenager once again found himself under scrutiny for losing his cool. India-A now heads into a must-win clash against Afghanistan-A, needing not only victory but also a significant boost to its Net Run Rate while hoping other results fall in its favour.
The spectators came in search of cricketing entertainment. They left having witnessed a farcical finish.
Published on Jun 15, 2026
