Vaibhav Suryavanshi Missing in Super Over: Captain Justifies the Decision

India A crashed out of the Rising Stars Asia Cup in Doha on Friday after failing to score a single run in a disastrous Super Over against Bangladesh A — a collapse made worse by a puzzling tactical call.

The decision to hold back 14-year-old big-hitter Vaibhav Suryavanshi in the tie-breaker proved decisive as Jitesh Sharma’s side bowed out at the West End Park International Cricket Stadium.

India A had dragged the semifinal into a Super Over, aided by Bangladesh’s sloppy fielding. Both teams finished on 194 after 40 overs in a high-scoring contest. But the momentum evaporated instantly when Bangladesh seamer Ripon Mondol produced a flawless Super Over, dismissing both Indian batters without conceding a run.

Super Over Misfire

Jitesh Sharma chose to open the Super Over alongside Ramandeep Singh, leaving out Suryavanshi — India’s most explosive batter in the tournament and their top scorer in the match. The decision backfired immediately when Ripon removed Jitesh first ball. India then sent out Ashutosh Sharma instead of Suryavanshi, but the move fared no better; Ashutosh fell for a duck, ending the innings in just two deliveries.

Bangladesh needed only one to win. Although Suyash Sharma dismissed Yasir Ali Chowdhury first ball, a wide on the next delivery sealed India A’s exit.

Why Suryavanshi Didn’t Bat

Suryavanshi, who had smashed 38 off 15 earlier in the game and entered the semifinal as the tournament’s standout batter, was again overlooked for the Super Over — a call that baffled viewers and commentators alike.

Captain Jitesh Sharma defended the choice, saying the team believed Ramandeep Singh and Ashutosh Sharma were better suited to “death-overs hitting.”

“In our setup, Vaibhav and Priyansh dominate the powerplay, while Ashu and Raman are our death-overs specialists. So the Super Over combination was a team decision, and I made the final call,” he said at the presentation.

India’s Missed Chances

India A had several opportunities to close out the game before it went to a tie-breaker. Jitesh, who scored 33 off 23, admitted he should have steered the chase home.

“As a senior, I should’ve finished the game,” he said. “This was a big learning experience. These young boys have incredible talent — someday they might win India a World Cup. It’s about growth, not just results.”

Their bowlers were also below par at the death, conceding 61 runs in the final three overs as Bangladesh surged to 194. India’s middle and lower order then faltered in the chase, squandering a strong platform.

India A still ended their campaign with credit, having beaten the UAE and Oman convincingly in the group stage. But the semifinal collapse ensured Bangladesh A progressed to Sunday’s final, where they will face Pakistan A.