IND A vs AFG A: Why Vaibhav Sooryavanshi was given not out after controversial Afghanistan catch explained originally appeared on Cricket News.
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KEY TAKEAWAYS:
- Sooryavanshi survives a contested catch when the third umpire spots the ball touching ground.
- The teenager gets a second reprieve before being dismissed for 38 off 28.
- This follows a heated push-and-shove incident with Sri Lanka’s Vishen Halambage days earlier.
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi survives a controversial third-umpire call before eventually falling for 38
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi found himself in the headlines once again on Wednesday, as he survived in the second over of his innings after a contentious third-umpire decision overturned what looked like a stunning catch during India A’s fifth Tri-Nation A Series match against Afghanistan A in Sri Lanka.
Faridoon Dawoodzai appeared to have completed a sharp one-handed grab at point off Shams Ur Rahman, and the dismissal looked clean to the naked eye. But after repeated frame-by-frame replays, the third umpire concluded that part of the ball had brushed the turf as the catch was completed.
“Some part of the ball is touching the ground, made my decision,” the umpire said.
The Afghan brigade was shocked to see the green light flash and even had a chat with the on-field umpire. However, the decision stood, and Sooryavanshi got his first lifeline on zero.
🚨Vaibhav sooryavanshi survives 🚨
– The third umpire gave this not out
– some part of the ball was touching the ground pic.twitter.com/L6HTG5B3Ty— Wade (@Crick_buttowski) June 17, 2026
Sooryavanshi gets a second slice of luck
Sooryavanshi’s good fortune did not end there. Shortly after surviving the contested catch, he was dropped again on seven and received a second reprieve in quick succession. He eventually made the most of those chances before falling in the eighth over for 38 runs off 28 deliveries.
Despite the fame that followed his record-breaking IPL 2026 season and maiden India call-up, Sooryavanshi has struggled for consistency in this series, as he has had scores of 14, 44, 21 and now 38.
MORE: India coach defends Sooryavanshi after physical altercation with SL A players
The incident comes only days after Sooryavanshi was involved in a heated altercation with Sri Lanka’s Vishen Halambage, which required players to step in and separate the two. BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia subsequently urged the squad to stay focused on cricket and avoid what he termed “collateral issues.”
The Bigger Picture: The hype needs to cool down around Sooryavanshi
Upon careful inspection, it can be seen that none of this is really about Sooryavanshi’s talent, which has never been in question. It is about the noise that follows a 15-year-old wherever he goes right now.
A controversial catch becomes a headline, a scuffle becomes a story, and a string of starts without a big score becomes a talking point rather than what it actually is.
In the end, he is still a teenager adjusting to a new level of cricket. Everyone involved, including the player himself, would benefit from letting these performances speak quietly for a while.
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