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Tilak Varma: ‘It only matters how good I am today and how good I can be tomorrow’

Fresh from a stunning IPL 2026 campaign that earned him the Orange Cap, Sooryavanshi has endured a lean run in the tournament so far, scoring 117 runs in four innings. Yet the team management remains firmly behind him. On the eve of the final, despite it being an optional training session, captain Tilak Varma, Prabhsimran Singh and Sooryavanshi spent considerable time in the nets at the Rangiri International Stadium, fine-tuning their preparations for the biggest game of the tournament.

While India’s batters will need to be more consistent, the team could consider bringing in hit-the-deck pacer Ashok Sharma. However, much will depend on the spin attack making the most of the conditions that have increasingly favoured slow bowlers throughout the competition.

For Sri Lanka-A, the challenge has been closing out games. Having let winning positions slip more than once during the tournament, the host will be keen to avoid a repeat in the final. Avishka Fernando arrives with confidence after his century against Afghanistan-A, while Niroshan Dickwella’s experience at the top will be crucial. The middle order, too, will need to hold its nerve under pressure.

The last time these teams met, tempers flared, emotions spilt over, and the result was decided only after a dramatic Super Over. On Sunday, though, both sides will look to leave the noise behind and focus on the bigger prize — lifting the trophy in front of what is expected to be another lively Dambulla crowd.

(The match starts at 10 am local time and IST)

Published on Jun 20, 2026

#TriNation #Series #India #hopes #top #order #fire #summit #clash #Sri #Lanka"> Tri-Nation Series: India A hopes for top order to fire in summit clash against Sri Lanka A The road to the Tri-Nation Series final has been anything but straightforward for India-A and Sri Lanka-A. Having already shared two fiercely contested encounters, the teams now face off one last time with the silverware on the line.Sri Lanka-A pushed India-A hard in both meetings, with the most recent clash going all the way to a Super Over. Now India will hope its top order, particularly teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, finally delivers.READ: Tilak Varma: ‘It only matters how good I am today and how good I can be tomorrow’Fresh from a stunning IPL 2026 campaign that earned him the Orange Cap, Sooryavanshi has endured a lean run in the tournament so far, scoring 117 runs in four innings. Yet the team management remains firmly behind him. On the eve of the final, despite it being an optional training session, captain Tilak Varma, Prabhsimran Singh and Sooryavanshi spent considerable time in the nets at the Rangiri International Stadium, fine-tuning their preparations for the biggest game of the tournament.While India’s batters will need to be more consistent, the team could consider bringing in hit-the-deck pacer Ashok Sharma. However, much will depend on the spin attack making the most of the conditions that have increasingly favoured slow bowlers throughout the competition.For Sri Lanka-A, the challenge has been closing out games. Having let winning positions slip more than once during the tournament, the host will be keen to avoid a repeat in the final. Avishka Fernando arrives with confidence after his century against Afghanistan-A, while Niroshan Dickwella’s experience at the top will be crucial. The middle order, too, will need to hold its nerve under pressure.The last time these teams met, tempers flared, emotions spilt over, and the result was decided only after a dramatic Super Over. On Sunday, though, both sides will look to leave the noise behind and focus on the bigger prize — lifting the trophy in front of what is expected to be another lively Dambulla crowd.(The match starts at 10 am local time and IST)Published on Jun 20, 2026 #TriNation #Series #India #hopes #top #order #fire #summit #clash #Sri #Lanka
Sports news

Tilak Varma: ‘It only matters how good I am today and how good I can be tomorrow’

Fresh from a stunning IPL 2026 campaign that earned him the Orange Cap, Sooryavanshi has endured a lean run in the tournament so far, scoring 117 runs in four innings. Yet the team management remains firmly behind him. On the eve of the final, despite it being an optional training session, captain Tilak Varma, Prabhsimran Singh and Sooryavanshi spent considerable time in the nets at the Rangiri International Stadium, fine-tuning their preparations for the biggest game of the tournament.

While India’s batters will need to be more consistent, the team could consider bringing in hit-the-deck pacer Ashok Sharma. However, much will depend on the spin attack making the most of the conditions that have increasingly favoured slow bowlers throughout the competition.

For Sri Lanka-A, the challenge has been closing out games. Having let winning positions slip more than once during the tournament, the host will be keen to avoid a repeat in the final. Avishka Fernando arrives with confidence after his century against Afghanistan-A, while Niroshan Dickwella’s experience at the top will be crucial. The middle order, too, will need to hold its nerve under pressure.

The last time these teams met, tempers flared, emotions spilt over, and the result was decided only after a dramatic Super Over. On Sunday, though, both sides will look to leave the noise behind and focus on the bigger prize — lifting the trophy in front of what is expected to be another lively Dambulla crowd.

(The match starts at 10 am local time and IST)

Published on Jun 20, 2026

#TriNation #Series #India #hopes #top #order #fire #summit #clash #Sri #Lanka">Tri-Nation Series: India A hopes for top order to fire in summit clash against Sri Lanka A

The road to the Tri-Nation Series final has been anything but straightforward for India-A and Sri Lanka-A. Having already shared two fiercely contested encounters, the teams now face off one last time with the silverware on the line.

Sri Lanka-A pushed India-A hard in both meetings, with the most recent clash going all the way to a Super Over. Now India will hope its top order, particularly teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, finally delivers.

READ: Tilak Varma: ‘It only matters how good I am today and how good I can be tomorrow’

Fresh from a stunning IPL 2026 campaign that earned him the Orange Cap, Sooryavanshi has endured a lean run in the tournament so far, scoring 117 runs in four innings. Yet the team management remains firmly behind him. On the eve of the final, despite it being an optional training session, captain Tilak Varma, Prabhsimran Singh and Sooryavanshi spent considerable time in the nets at the Rangiri International Stadium, fine-tuning their preparations for the biggest game of the tournament.

While India’s batters will need to be more consistent, the team could consider bringing in hit-the-deck pacer Ashok Sharma. However, much will depend on the spin attack making the most of the conditions that have increasingly favoured slow bowlers throughout the competition.

For Sri Lanka-A, the challenge has been closing out games. Having let winning positions slip more than once during the tournament, the host will be keen to avoid a repeat in the final. Avishka Fernando arrives with confidence after his century against Afghanistan-A, while Niroshan Dickwella’s experience at the top will be crucial. The middle order, too, will need to hold its nerve under pressure.

The last time these teams met, tempers flared, emotions spilt over, and the result was decided only after a dramatic Super Over. On Sunday, though, both sides will look to leave the noise behind and focus on the bigger prize — lifting the trophy in front of what is expected to be another lively Dambulla crowd.

(The match starts at 10 am local time and IST)

Published on Jun 20, 2026

#TriNation #Series #India #hopes #top #order #fire #summit #clash #Sri #Lanka

The road to the Tri-Nation Series final has been anything but straightforward for India-A and…

‘He gave up his dream for mine’ — Rajasthan’s Ashok Sharma repays brother’s faith

On the jump to the IPL level, he pointed to the unforgiving nature of elite cricket. “The margin is very small. There you can get away with making mistakes, here you cannot.”

His grounding lies in the ecosystem at Rajasthan’s Aravali Cricket Club, where a culture of shared learning has helped produce emerging talent. Founded by the late Rajasthan cricketer Vivek Yadav, the academy has nurtured some of the young IPL talent, including Akash Singh (LSG), Kartik Sharma (CSK), and Mukul Choudhary (LSG).

“Akash Singh was the first one who played IPL. Seeing him, everyone felt their brother was playing and started following him.” Ashok added that he “practices together” with peers Mukul and Kartik, exchanging ideas and learning through constant conversation. “We spoke with Akash bhaiyya about how it was there in the IPL, and tried practicing accordingly.”

Published on Apr 10, 2026

#IPL #Ashok #Sharma #eyes #India #making #fast #start #Gujarat #Titans"> IPL 2026: Ashok Sharma eyes India after making a fast start for Gujarat Titans Rajasthan pacer Ashok Sharma has packed a remarkable rise into a short span – from his maiden T20 season for his State side to finishing as the leading wicket-taker in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, and now making his IPL debut with Gujarat Titans (GT) and having delivered the fastest ball of the ongoing season (154.2 kph).With his trajectory sharply on the upswing, Ashok said his ultimate goal is clear: to represent India.Under GT head coach Ashish Nehra, the focus has been less on outright speed and more on execution. “He knows I bowl fast. His thing is just to bowl in the right areas and focus on what improvements you can make. Pace, I can bowl anytime,” Ashok said over an online interview with journalists on Friday.Interactions within the setup, particularly with senior pacer Ishant Sharma, have also shaped his development. “I had a long talk with him about what and how to do, and the things I can work on. He also worked on my bowling,” Ashok said.“I believe more in my back-of-the-hand slower one and yorker,” he said of his go-to options at the death.ALSO READ: ‘He gave up his dream for mine’ — Rajasthan’s Ashok Sharma repays brother’s faithOn the jump to the IPL level, he pointed to the unforgiving nature of elite cricket. “The margin is very small. There you can get away with making mistakes, here you cannot.”His grounding lies in the ecosystem at Rajasthan’s Aravali Cricket Club, where a culture of shared learning has helped produce emerging talent. Founded by the late Rajasthan cricketer Vivek Yadav, the academy has nurtured some of the young IPL talent, including Akash Singh (LSG), Kartik Sharma (CSK), and Mukul Choudhary (LSG).“Akash Singh was the first one who played IPL. Seeing him, everyone felt their brother was playing and started following him.” Ashok added that he “practices together” with peers Mukul and Kartik, exchanging ideas and learning through constant conversation. “We spoke with Akash bhaiyya about how it was there in the IPL, and tried practicing accordingly.”Published on Apr 10, 2026 #IPL #Ashok #Sharma #eyes #India #making #fast #start #Gujarat #Titans
Sports news

‘He gave up his dream for mine’ — Rajasthan’s Ashok Sharma repays brother’s faith

On the jump to the IPL level, he pointed to the unforgiving nature of elite cricket. “The margin is very small. There you can get away with making mistakes, here you cannot.”

His grounding lies in the ecosystem at Rajasthan’s Aravali Cricket Club, where a culture of shared learning has helped produce emerging talent. Founded by the late Rajasthan cricketer Vivek Yadav, the academy has nurtured some of the young IPL talent, including Akash Singh (LSG), Kartik Sharma (CSK), and Mukul Choudhary (LSG).

“Akash Singh was the first one who played IPL. Seeing him, everyone felt their brother was playing and started following him.” Ashok added that he “practices together” with peers Mukul and Kartik, exchanging ideas and learning through constant conversation. “We spoke with Akash bhaiyya about how it was there in the IPL, and tried practicing accordingly.”

Published on Apr 10, 2026

#IPL #Ashok #Sharma #eyes #India #making #fast #start #Gujarat #Titans">IPL 2026: Ashok Sharma eyes India after making a fast start for Gujarat Titans

Rajasthan pacer Ashok Sharma has packed a remarkable rise into a short span – from his maiden T20 season for his State side to finishing as the leading wicket-taker in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, and now making his IPL debut with Gujarat Titans (GT) and having delivered the fastest ball of the ongoing season (154.2 kph).

With his trajectory sharply on the upswing, Ashok said his ultimate goal is clear: to represent India.

Under GT head coach Ashish Nehra, the focus has been less on outright speed and more on execution. “He knows I bowl fast. His thing is just to bowl in the right areas and focus on what improvements you can make. Pace, I can bowl anytime,” Ashok said over an online interview with journalists on Friday.

Interactions within the setup, particularly with senior pacer Ishant Sharma, have also shaped his development. “I had a long talk with him about what and how to do, and the things I can work on. He also worked on my bowling,” Ashok said.

“I believe more in my back-of-the-hand slower one and yorker,” he said of his go-to options at the death.

ALSO READ: ‘He gave up his dream for mine’ — Rajasthan’s Ashok Sharma repays brother’s faith

On the jump to the IPL level, he pointed to the unforgiving nature of elite cricket. “The margin is very small. There you can get away with making mistakes, here you cannot.”

His grounding lies in the ecosystem at Rajasthan’s Aravali Cricket Club, where a culture of shared learning has helped produce emerging talent. Founded by the late Rajasthan cricketer Vivek Yadav, the academy has nurtured some of the young IPL talent, including Akash Singh (LSG), Kartik Sharma (CSK), and Mukul Choudhary (LSG).

“Akash Singh was the first one who played IPL. Seeing him, everyone felt their brother was playing and started following him.” Ashok added that he “practices together” with peers Mukul and Kartik, exchanging ideas and learning through constant conversation. “We spoke with Akash bhaiyya about how it was there in the IPL, and tried practicing accordingly.”

Published on Apr 10, 2026

#IPL #Ashok #Sharma #eyes #India #making #fast #start #Gujarat #Titans

Rajasthan pacer Ashok Sharma has packed a remarkable rise into a short span - from…