Follow UsIndia A team collapsed in unbelievable fashion against arch-rivals Pakistan Shaheens in the Rising Stars Asia Cup 2025, a competition featuring A teams of Test playing nations alongside the senior men’s teams of top associate nations of Asia.
Playing in a Group A match against Pakistan on November 16 (Sunday) in Doha, India captain Jitesh Sharma was asked to bat after losing the toss against his Pakistan counterpart Irfan Khan.
The Indian team started smoothly, scoring 30 off the first 20 balls thanks to their openers Priyansh Arya and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. While Arya was dismissed for 10, Sooryavanshi continued and added 49 off the next 32 balls alongside Naman Dhir.
Dhir too departed, but the boy from Bihar was there at the crease and looked to add to his hundred that he scored in the last match against the United Arab Emirates (UAE). However, one shot too many meant that he was out for 45 off 28 balls.
Before Sooryavanshi’s departure, India A's score read 91/2. But just as he was dismissed, the floodgates opened, and the Indian team lost one wicket after another, eventually getting bowled out for 136 in 19 overs. It meant that they lost their last eight wickets for 45 runs in 57 balls.
Chasing 137 to win and top the group, the Shaheens got to the target inside 14 overs with 8 wickets to spare.