In a surprising turn of events, India A missed out on a spot in the final of the Emerging Asia Cup 2024. Despite a valiant effort by Ramandeep Singh, who played a brilliant knock of 64 runs, India A lost to Afghanistan A by 20 runs in the semi-final held in Muscat, Oman. Afghanistan A posted a formidable total of 206 runs, the highest in the tournament so far, while India A could only muster 186 in response.
Afghanistan’s Explosive Start Sets the Tone
Afghanistan A won the toss and elected to bat first, and their openers, Sadiqullah Atal and Zubaid Akbari, wasted no time in taking control of the match. The duo launched a fierce attack on the Indian bowlers, racing to 61 runs in the powerplay itself. By the 12th over, the team had crossed the 100-run mark, laying the foundation for a massive score.
The turning point came in the 13th over, where Rahul Chahar, who has represented India in the T20 World Cup, was hammered for 31 runs, including 4 sixes and two costly no-balls. The partnership between Atal and Akbari reached 137 runs, with Akbari scoring 64 and Atal top-scoring with a fine 83.
Although Rasikh Salam Dar managed to take two quick wickets, Afghanistan’s all-rounder Karim Janat’s quickfire 41 off 20 balls ensured Afghanistan A reached 206 runs—the first team to cross the 200-run mark in the tournament.
India A’s Top Order Stumbles
Chasing a daunting target of 207, India A’s hopes rested on their openers, Prabhsimran Singh and Abhishek Sharma, but both failed to deliver. Abhishek was dismissed early, managing just 7 runs, while Prabhsimran hit a few shots before getting out for 19. Captain Tilak Verma also fell cheaply, contributing only 16 runs, leaving India in a difficult position at the top.
A brief resistance was shown by Ayush Badoni and Nehal Wadhera, who put together a small partnership to take India past the 100-run mark by the 13th over. However, both fell shortly afterward, and India’s chances seemed slim.
Ramandeep Singh’s Brave Fightback
With five wickets down and India’s chase faltering, Ramandeep Singh came in and played a heroic knock to revive the team’s hopes. Known for his stint with Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL, Ramandeep smashed boundaries and scored a half-century off just 26 balls. Along with Nishant Sindhu, who added a quick 23, Ramandeep put on 68 runs in just 31 balls.
However, the partnership was broken by a runout, and with Sindhu’s dismissal, India A’s hopes of making a comeback quickly faded. Despite Ramandeep’s valiant effort, the Indian team was bowled out for 186 runs in their 20 overs, falling short by 20 runs.
India and Pakistan Knocked Out in Semi-Finals
This defeat means that India A, last year’s finalists, will not feature in the title match. Earlier in the day, Sri Lanka A defeated Pakistan Shaheens by 7 wickets in the first semi-final, ensuring that neither of last year’s finalists will compete for the trophy this time around.
