A display of dominant cricket by India A saw the team carving a convincing win against England Lions in the second unofficial Test at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. The victory marked by a striking performance from Uttar Pradesh spinner Saurabh Kumar, who bagged a five-wicket haul, ensured a commanding finish with an innings and 16 runs lead for the home team.
Setting the stage with a formidable first innings total of 489, India A’s solid start laid the foundation of what was to become a remarkable win. In the wake of a 337-run lead, England Lions took to the crease only to crumble at a score of 321 on the fourth day of the Test.
Despite determined efforts from English wicketkeeper-batsman Ollie Robinson and skipper Josh Bohannon, who both crafted commendable innings to keep their side in contention, the touring team was ultimately overpowered by the host’s bowling attack. The standout moment was a spellbinding performance by Saurabh Kumar, whose five wickets anchored India A’s success.
Adding an extra sprinkle of star power to the match was Sarfaraz Khan, whose bat spoke the language of runs with a stellar 161 off just 160 balls. His innings helped him clinch the Player of the Match award and reignited discussions among fans and cricket pundits alike about his continued exclusion from the red-ball national team by the BCCI selection committee.
Other notable contributions came from Karnataka’s Devdutt Padikkal, who notched up a rapid century, and captain Abhimanyu Easwaran. All-rounders Washington Sundar and Saurabh Kumar also chipped in with vital fifties, establishing a well-rounded batting performance that would prove insurmountable for the visitors.
In terms of bowling prowess, alongside Saurabh’s headline act, pacers Arshdeep Singh and Akash Deep made significant contributions, taking two wickets each. Akash also shone in the first innings with a four-wicket haul, continually boosting his reputation in the India A squad.
As the teams look ahead, India A sits comfortably with a 1-0 lead in the series. They now prepare to enter the third and final match against the England Lions at the same venue, starting on February 1st. For India A, the series has been an impressive showcase of young talent and seasoned skills blending to create cricket that is both exciting and effective.
The lineup for the sides in this match provided a glimpse of the potential future stars and experienced campaigners vital for the bench strength of their respective national teams. India A’s XI included Abhimanyu Easwaran (c), Devdutt Padikkal, Sarfaraz Khan, Tilak Varma, Rinku Singh, Upendra Yadav (wk), Washington Sundar, Saurabh Kumar, Akash Deep, Arshdeep Singh, and Yash Dayal. The England Lions fielded Keaton Jennings, Alex Lees, Josh Bohannon (c), Oliver Price, James Rew, Dan Mousley, Oliver Robinson (wk), Brydon Carse, Matthew Potts, Tom Lawes, and Callum Parkinson.
This victory not only serves as a morale booster for the host but also sends out a statement of the depth in talent that Indian cricket possesses, ready to step up on the international stage. Fans and selectors alike have much to look forward to as India A moves forward in this series with poise and growing confidence.
