Vaibhav Sooryavanshi fight goes viral from the IND-A vs SL-A match - WATCH
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The India A team is currently touring Sri Lanka, competing in a tri-nation ODI series against Sri Lanka A and Afghanistan A. During the fourth match of the tournament, a heated confrontation broke out between 15-year-old Vaibhav Suryavanshi and Sri Lanka A player Vishan Halambage; the situation escalated into a physical scuffle before teammates intervened to defuse the situation.
The unofficial ODI between India A and Sri Lanka A in Dambulla went to a Super Over, which the host team won. After the match, Vishan Halambage told Vaibhav, "The match is over... go home now..." This infuriated Vaibhav, leading him to clash with the Sri Lanka A players. The situation could have turned much more serious had Suryansh Shedge and other Sri Lanka A players not intervened.
According to reports, Vaibhav stated that the Sri Lankan players had repeatedly provoked him while walking off the field with abusive language, a provocation to which he eventually reacted.
The drama had begun even before the Super Over. Due to concerns about fading light, match officials were initially unsure whether a Super Over could be held after Sri Lanka A equalled India A's score of 265. India A captain, Tilak Varma, repeatedly insisted on a Super Over, whereas the umpires did not initially seem in favour of it. After lengthy discussions, the umpires consulted both teams and granted permission for the Super Over to take place.
Arshad Khan was entrusted with the bowling duties for the Super Over. On the final ball of the over, a full-toss delivery reaching waist height was bowled, off which Sri Lanka A scored two runs. Just as the players were leaving the field and Vaibhav Suryavanshi was padded up and ready to bat, the umpires declared it a no-ball. Tilak once again approached the officials and engaged in a lengthy discussion to seek clarification on the decision. This delay further heightened the already tense atmosphere.
The controversy did not end there. After Sri Lanka A completed their Super Over, Tilak was once again at the centre of the discussion; this time, he was unhappy with the no-ball decision. Arshad Khan had bowled a waist-high full-toss on the final ball of the over, yielding no runs for Sri Lanka A. Just as the players were leaving the field and Vaibhav Suryavanshi was padded up and ready to bat, the umpires declared it a no-ball. Tilak once again approached the officials and engaged in a lengthy discussion to seek clarification on the decision. This delay further heightened the already tense atmosphere.
Sri Lanka A bowler, Kugathas Mathulan, bowled brilliantly in the Super Over, securing his team's second victory of the tournament. Following the match—and the altercation between Suryavanshi and Halambage—the players traditionally shook hands.
A decision regarding the players involved in the altercation will be made in the coming days. However, the International Cricket Council (ICC) generally does not adjudicate on disciplinary matters related to 'A-team' series, nor does it appoint match officials for such series. It is currently difficult to confirm whether match referee Pradeep Jaiprakash will take disciplinary action against the players under the ICC Code of Conduct for this match. The incident could fall under Article 2.12 of the ICC Code of Conduct, which covers "inappropriate physical contact with a player, player support personnel, umpire, match referee, or any other person during an international match."
Under this rule, a player can face action if they make physical contact with another player or official—whether intentionally, negligently, or inadvertently—such as by colliding with them or shouldering them while walking or running.
Consequences in such situations can include a fine of up to 50 per cent of the player's match fee, the addition of one or two demerit points to their disciplinary record, or an official warning or reprimand for less serious cases. If a player accumulates four demerit points within 24 months, they can face suspension. It remains to be seen what action will be taken against Vaibhav Sooryavanshi.
According to reports, the matter was also discussed in the Sri Lankan dressing room after the match. Some reports suggest that the Sri Lanka A team might apologise to India A for their conduct; however, it will be interesting to see if they actually do so.
