India A captain Tilak Varma has spoken publicly for the first time after his side's controversial Super Over defeat against Sri Lanka A in the tri-series, saying that the team had no intention of escalating tensions and only wanted clarity from the umpires over continuing play under fading light.
India A found themselves at the centre of controversy earlier this week after their tied match against Sri Lanka A descended into heated scenes during and after the Super Over in Dambulla.
Speaking ahead of the final, Tilak addressed the incident and pushed back against suggestions that India had engaged in prolonged arguments with officials.
"Honestly, if you look at that game, the light wasn’t ideal for a Super Over. But we had worked hard throughout the day and wanted a result because both teams were playing for two points. That’s all I was asking the umpires about. There wasn’t much argument from our side," Tilak Varma told Sportstar in an interview.
The comments come after a dramatic finish to India's league-stage clash against Sri Lanka A , where the match ended in a tie before the hosts clinched the Super Over.
The controversy began at the end of regulation time.
Sri Lanka needed two runs from the final ball to win. After a leg-before appeal was turned down, the batters completed a run and attempted a second before a run-out ended the over and tied the scores.
India's players were visibly animated after the finish and questioned the circumstances around the final delivery as the match headed into a Super Over amid fading light.
During Sri Lanka's Super Over, another flashpoint emerged after a high full toss led to confusion over whether the delivery would stand. India briefly walked off before play resumed following clarification from the officials.
Emotions spilled over once the contest ended.
Television visuals showed young batter Vaibhav Sooryavanshi getting involved in a heated exchange with Sri Lankan players after the Super Over defeat before teammates and opposition players stepped in to separate those involved.
The incident drew attention because of the nature of the tournament, which is traditionally viewed as a developmental platform for emerging players rather than a high-pressure bilateral series. INDIA A vs SRI LANKA A: FINAL
Tilak, however, insisted that the team's focus remained on competing and learning rather than getting consumed by the result.
The India A captain also reflected on the expectations that come with leading the national set-up.
"As for pressure, yes, it comes with leading India because of the legacy attached to the team. But pressure is part of the job. We’ve actually played good cricket in this tournament. Against Afghanistan-A, the DLS result didn’t go our way. Against Sri Lanka-A, it was a very close game. But overall, we’ve played well as a team, and now we have one game left. We’ll give it our best," he added.
India A now return to Dambulla for another meeting with Sri Lanka A, this time with the tri-series title at stake and an opportunity to move on from one of the tournament's most controversial evenings. - Ends
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