New Delhi: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Thursday announced the 15-member India A squad for the upcoming ODI tri-series in Sri Lanka, scheduled for June 2026. Mumbai batter Tilak Varma has been named captain, with Rajasthan Royals star Riyan Parag as his deputy.
The tri-series will feature India A, hosts Sri Lanka A, and Afghanistan A, providing a crucial platform for emerging Indian talents to gain valuable international experience.
Full Squad for tri-series
Tilak Varma (Captain)
Priyansh Arya
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi
Riyan Parag (Vice-Captain)
Ayush Badoni
Nishant Sindhu
Harsh Dubey
Suryansh Shedge
Prabhsimran Singh (WK)
Kumar Kushagra (WK)
Vipraj Nigam
Yash Thakur
Yudhvir Singh
Anshul Kamboj
Arshad Khan
Captain Tilak varma
Tilak Varma has been one of the most consistent performers across all formats of Indian cricket over the past few years, and his appointment as captain seems like a natural progression. The performance of this Mumbai Indians batsman has been magnificent—the century.
He recently scored against the Gujarat Titans stands as the latest testament to his excellence. His calm demeanor and adaptability in the middle order make him well-suited to lead a young, energetic unit.
Vice-Captain Riyan Parag
Riyan Parag has been appointed vice-captain of the India A squad after consistently delivering strong performances in domestic cricket and the IPL.
Parag’s added value comes from his versatility, as he can contribute useful overs with the ball while also being an energetic presence on the field. Over the past few seasons, he has shown greater maturity in handling crucial situations, which has strengthened his leadership credentials.
His appointment as deputy to Tilak Varma reflects the selectors’ confidence in his temperament and all-round abilities. The Sri Lanka tri-series presents another opportunity for Parag to push his case for a regular place in India’s senior white-ball setup.
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s Maiden India A Call-Up
If there is one name that will dominate the conversation around this squad, it is Vaibhav Sooryavanshi.He made his Ranji Trophy debut at just 12, becoming the second youngest player to do so for Bihar.
He became the youngest player to earn an IPL contract when the Rajasthan Royals signed him for ₹1.1 crore at the IPL 2025 mega auction.
During the 2025-26 Vijay Hazare Trophy, he struck a 36-ball hundred against Arunachal Pradesh, becoming the youngest player in the world to score a century in List A cricket.
Most recently, Sooryavanshi led India U19 to World Cup glory in early 2026, winning the Player of the Tournament award after a stunning 175 off 80 balls in the final against England U19.
Two Wicketkeeper Options
India A will have the luxury of two reliable keeper-batters. Firstly, Prabhsimran Singh brings aggressive stroke-play at the top of the order. Meanwhile, Kumar Kushagra is regarded as one of the country’s most promising young wicketkeepers. Therefore, the presence of two specialist glovemen gives Tilak Varma greater tactical flexibility throughout the tournament.
Full Series Schedule
| Date | Match |
|---|---|
| June 9 | India A vs Sri Lanka A |
| June 11 | India A vs Afghanistan A |
| June 13 | Afghanistan A vs Sri Lanka A |
| June 15 | India A vs Sri Lanka A |
| June 17 | India A vs Afghanistan A |
| June 19 | Afghanistan A vs Sri Lanka A |
| June 21 | Final |
Key Talking Points
Youthful Firepower:
The inclusion of Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and Priyansh Arya signals BCCI’s focus on fast-tracking aggressive top-order batters. Sooryavanshi, known for his record-breaking exploits, and Arya, a destructive left-hander, will get a chance to test themselves against international A-team attacks.
Leadership & Balance:
Tilak Varma’s calm leadership and middle-order strength make him an ideal captain for this transition phase. Meanwhile, Riyan Parag adds dynamism with both bat and ball. He also provides strong leadership support as vice-captain.
The pace attack featuring Yash Thakur, Yudhvir Singh, Anshul Kamboj, and Arshad Khan looks balanced and dangerous. In addition, spinners Harsh Dubey and Vipraj Nigam bring variety to the bowling attack. Therefore, India A will have multiple tactical options in different match situations.
Wicket-keeping Depth:
Prabhsimran Singh and Kumar Kushagra provide reliable glovework and batting firepower, ensuring India A remains competitive across formats.
This tour comes at a vital time as India’s senior team maintains a packed international calendar. Performances here could fast-track players into the senior setup or India A’s longer red-ball commitments.
This tour comes at a vital time as India’s senior team maintains a packed international calendar. Performances here could fast-track players into the senior setup or India A’s longer red-ball commitments.
