India A recover from 17/2 as Ruturaj Gaikwad anchors innings with 101 off 114; Shedge-Badoni cameo adds crucial late runs in Dambulla tri-series opener

India A captain Tilak Varma won the toss and opted to bat first in the tri-nation series opener against Sri Lanka A at the Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium on Tuesday morning. The decision looked shaky early on, but a gritty 150-run partnership between Tilak and vice-captain Ruturaj Gaikwad steadied the innings before late fireworks pushed the total to 277/6 in 50 overs.

Early collapse raises concerns

The Indian innings got off to a promising but fleeting start. Fifteen-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, making his first appearance since receiving a maiden Team India call-up, showed intent with a couple of early boundaries. But his stay was cut short at 14 when skipper Sahan Arachchige pulled off a diving catch at mid-off.

Prabhsimran Singh followed soon after, surprised by a sharp bouncer from Chamika Karunaratne that thudded off his glove. At 17/2 inside five overs, India A were in trouble.

Recovery act

Ruturaj Gaikwad and Priyansh Arya added 53 runs for the third wicket, but a terrible mix-up led to Arya's run out for 32. The left-hander's bat got obstructed by wicketkeeper Dickwella's boot, and both batters ended up at the same end.

That brought Tilak Varma to the crease, and the pair went into consolidation mode. Gaikwad brought up his fifty off 65 balls with a six, while Tilak anchored patiently at the other end. The 150-run partnership came off 185 balls—slow but desperately needed.

Gaikwad reaches milestone

On what is his 100th List A appearance, Gaikwad brought up his 21st century in the format, reaching three figures in 112 deliveries. He eventually fell for 101, holing out to Avishka Fernando near the ropes while attempting a slog over mid-wicket.

Tilak followed soon after for 60 off 97 balls, bowled by Mohamed Shiraz while trying to play fine.

Death over flourish

With the score at 225/5, India looked set to finish below 260. But Suryansh Shedge and Ayush Badoni had other plans. The pair stitched a quickfire 46-run stand in just 26 balls, with Shedge hitting back-to-back maximums off Karunaratne in the 49th over. Badoni fell lbw in the final over, and Shedge was run out on the last ball, but the damage was done.

Mohamed Shiraz finished with two wickets for Sri Lanka A, while Karunaratne, Garuka Sanketh, and Wanuja Sahan bagged one each.

Bowling under scrutiny

While the batting recovery will please the India A think tank, the bowling unit faces questions. Arshad Khan and Anshul Kamboj, both making their India A outings, received harsh treatment early in the Sri Lankan chase. Kamboj was hit for boundaries in his opening over before pulling things back, but the overall discipline remained patchy.

As Tilak Varma mentioned at the toss, 275 was considered sufficient in these windy Dambulla conditions. The target of 278 now puts the pressure squarely on the bowlers to defend what their batters have built.

Novak Djokovic credits Virat Kohli for cricket fandom, confirms India visit

Tennis icon opens up

Tennis legend Novak Djokovic has revealed that Indian cricketer Virat Kohli is the sole reason he started following cricket. The 24-time Grand Slam champion made this disclosure on the sidelines of the Laureus World Sports Awards held on Tuesday. Djokovic also confirmed that he plans to travel to India soon to meet the former Royal Challengers Bengaluru captain.

 Kohli sparked cricket interest

The Serbian tennis star admitted he had no prior engagement with the sport before Kohli entered his orbit. “Yes, Virat is a friend and someone I, of course, respect and admire. He’s actually, to be honest, the reason why I started following cricket. I haven’t followed it. So through him, I started following it more,” Djokovic told Times Now.

 A meeting in India soon

Djokovic expressed strong intent to turn his virtual bond into a real-life meeting on Indian soil. “And, you know, we keep in touch. And hopefully when I come, I don’t want to say if, when I come to India, hopefully he can join, and then we could do a little bit of tennis, a little bit of cricket, and have fun and just spread positive, good vibes with people and celebrate sport,” he added.

 Mutual respect on display

The bond between the two sporting greats has been visible over the past year. Last season, Kohli attended Wimbledon and watched Djokovic’s match against Alex de Minaur. Following Djokovic’s victory, Kohli posted a congratulatory message on social media, which the tennis star warmly acknowledged. Such cross-sport admiration has rarely been seen at this scale involving an Indian cricketer.

 Djokovic feels India calling

Beyond his equation with Kohli, Djokovic spoke at length about his deep emotional connection with Indian fans. He said he has felt a strong urge to visit the country for several years. “My message is always love, respect, and appreciation for all the support over the years that I personally have been receiving from all the Indian tennis fans and Indian sports fans around the world. There are so many that I’ve been meeting all this time,” he said.

 A promise to Indian supporters

The Serbian ace did not hold back his enthusiasm about an India visit. “So I really hope that I’ll be able to come to India and do an event, play a match, or whatever it is. I really wish for that because I feel very close to Indian people,” Djokovic stated. His comments have already triggered speculation about a possible exhibition match or fan event involving both Djokovic and Kohli.

 Impact beyond cricket

Virat Kohli’s global influence continues to expand beyond cricket stadiums. As the ongoing IPL 2026 season draws massive viewership, Kohli remains the face of the league. His social media following surpasses several top NBA and football stars. When podcast host Joe Rogan recently learned that Kohli has more Instagram followers than LeBron James, he expressed genuine surprise. Moments like Djokovic’s open admiration further cement Kohli’s status as a truly global sporting icon.

 What next for fans

With Djokovic confirming an India visit, discussions are already underway about potential dates and venues. Sources indicate that the event could take place later this year, possibly in Mumbai or Delhi. If realised, a combined tennis-cricket exhibition featuring Djokovic and Kohli would be the first of its kind in India. For now, fans of both sports are eagerly waiting for an official announcement. The latest news today from India suggests that this cross-sport friendship is only set to grow stronger in the coming months.

IPL 2026: Goenka Gets Teary-Eyed, Tim David Smashes 70

Lucknow Super Giants owner breaks down after first victory; RCB post 250 against CSK as Tim David hits 70 off 25 in IPL 2026 action.

Emotional Owner

Lucknow Super Giants owner Sanjiv Goenka could not hold back tears as his side registered its first win of IPL 2026. The moment came when skipper Rishabh Pant hit the winning four against Sunrisers Hyderabad at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium. Ground cameras captured Goenka wiping his eyes, a picture that quickly went viral across social media. Sources close to the franchise said the victory carried immense emotional weight after a tough start to the campaign.

Reddy’s ‘Pushpa’ Celebration

Sunrisers Hyderabad found themselves in deep trouble at 35 for 4 inside 10 overs. Nitish Kumar Reddy then stitched a century stand with Heinrich Klaasen to pull his team back. Reddy brought up his fifty off just 30 balls and celebrated with his trademark ‘Pushpa’ movie gesture. The young all-rounder’s aggressive strokeplay gave SRH a fighting total, though it ultimately proved insufficient.

Pant’s Heroics Behind Stumps

Rishabh Pant delivered a wicketkeeping masterclass that turned the game in Lucknow’s favour. In the eighth over, he dived sharply to his right to grab a one-handed stunner, sending back Liam Livingstone. Later in the death overs, Pant repeated the act to dismiss Heinrich Klaasen off Avesh Khan’s bowling. His two superhuman catches broke crucial partnerships and kept SRH from posting a match-winning score.

Kohli’s ‘No-Look’ Six

The second Super Sunday fixture saw Royal Challengers Bengaluru pile up 250 runs against Chennai Super Kings. Virat Kohli set the tone early, smashing a ‘no-look’ six off Matt Henry in the fourth over. The shot drew loud cheers from the Chinnaswamy crowd, though Kohli departed soon after for 28 off 18 balls. Shivam Dube dropped his catch earlier but later redeemed himself by taking the same batter off Anshul Kamboj’s bowling.

Tim David’s 106-Metre Six

Tim David produced one of the most destructive death-overs knocks in IPL history. The big-hitter was bowled off a no-ball from Anshul Kamboj, then smashed the free hit for six. He went on to score 30 runs in a single over and finished with 70 off just 25 balls. One of his sixes travelled 106 metres, landing outside the stadium in Cubbon Park. RCB piled on 97 runs in the last five overs, largely due to David’s carnage.

Bizarre Run-Outs & Drops

The day also witnessed several unusual moments that left fans stunned. Nicholas Pooran was run out in bizarre fashion after sweeping the ball onto his own stumps, with Ishan Kishan completing the dismissal. Sarfaraz Khan dropped his bat while running between the wickets and gestured to the dressing room for new gloves. He still managed a 24-ball fifty before being stumped. Jitesh Sharma added to the highlight reel with a sharp one-handed catch to remove Shivam Dube.

What Lies Ahead

Both winning teams will look to build momentum as IPL 2026 moves into its second week. Lucknow Super Giants finally have points on the board after back-to-back losses. Royal Challengers Bengaluru, meanwhile, have sent a strong message with their 250-run total. The tournament now shifts focus to mid-table battles, with several franchises eyeing course correction. Cricket fans can expect more high-voltage action as the season gathers pace.