DOHA, QATAR – A stunning Super Over defeat has knocked India A out of the Asia Cup Rising Stars 2025 tournament, leaving young Vaibhav Suryavanshi visibly dejected on the sidelines. The semi-final clash against Bangladesh A ended in dramatic fashion, with the scores level after 20 overs, but India A faltered in the Super Over, failing to score a single run.
Bangladesh A will now face the winner of the Sri Lanka A vs Pakistan Shaheens match in the final.
The match was filled with twists and turns, ultimately concluding in what can only be described as an absurd roller-coaster. Bangladesh A posted a total of 194-6, with Habibur Rahman Sohan smashing a half-century at the top of the order and SM Meherob providing late fireworks. India A's chase started strongly thanks to Suryavanshi's quickfire 38 off just 15 balls. The 14-year-old prodigy launched a brutal assault, including picking up 19 runs from the first over and smashing spinner Meherob for back-to-back sixes. India A raced to 50 in just 19 balls, the fastest in the tournament.
However, after Suryavanshi's departure, the innings lost momentum, though Jitesh Sharma and Priyansh Arya kept India A in the hunt. Bangladesh A clawed their way back with some tight bowling. The game went down to the wire, with India needing four runs off the final ball. A chaotic sequence saw the batsmen scramble three runs after a misfield, forcing a Super Over.
The Super Over was a disaster for India A. Captain Jitesh Sharma and Ashutosh Sharma were dismissed off consecutive balls by Ripon Mondol, leaving India with no score on the board. In response, Bangladesh A lost an early wicket, caught by Ramandeep Singh off Suyash Sharma's bowling. However, a wide ball bowled by Sharma sealed the victory for Bangladesh A.
The decision to not send Suryavanshi in for the Super Over raised eyebrows. Jitesh Sharma explained that the decision was a team one, based on the belief that he, Ramandeep Singh, and Ashutosh Sharma were better suited to handle the pressure of the death overs, whereas Suryavanshi and Priyansh Arya are powerplay specialists. He took full responsibility for the loss, admitting he should have guided the team to victory. "I will take all the responsibility for this loss, as a senior I should have finished this game," Jitesh said.
Despite the loss, Jitesh Sharma praised the young players and their potential. "It's about learning, not just winning or losing... In terms of talent, they're touching the sky. It's all about learning and gaining experience," he stated.
The defeat marks the end of a disappointing tournament for India A, who also suffered a loss against Pakistan A earlier in the competition.
