India A made a strong statement ahead of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, defeating the United States of America (USA) by 38 runs in a warm-up match at the Dr DY Patil Sports Academy in Navi Mumbai on February 2. The match featured an impressive century by Narayan Jagadeesan and a solid return innings from Tilak Varma, leading India A to a total of 238 for 3.
Narayan Jagadeesan scores quick century against USA
Narayan Jagadeesan delivered an outstanding performance with a rapid 104 runs off 55 balls. He reached his century in just 47 balls, showcasing powerful hitting and smart placement, including 11 fours and 4 sixes with a strike rate close to 190.
Jagadeesan came to the crease early after Priyansh Arya was dismissed, quickly taking charge of the innings. His ability to quicken the scoring without taking unnecessary risks kept the USA bowlers under pressure on a batting-friendly pitch.
Tilak Varma returns with a solid innings
Tilak Varma marked his return from injury with a confident 38 runs off 24 balls. Batting at No. 3, he played aggressively, scoring at a rate of over 158 and effectively rotating the strike. His partnership with Jagadeesan was vital in pushing India A past the 150 mark by the 14th over.
Varma’s presence added stability to the middle order, providing reassurance to the team ahead of the main tournament. His wicket shortly after the halfway mark did not slow down India A’s progress.
Ayush Badoni finishes strong as India A reach 238
Captain Ayush Badoni capped off the innings with an explosive 60 runs off just 26 balls, hitting several boundaries and sixes. India A concluded their innings at a robust 238 for 3.
The USA bowlers struggled throughout the match, with most conceding runs at over 10 an over despite trying different bowling options.
USA’s chase falls short
Chasing a challenging target of 239, the USA started strong but soon fell behind. Andries Gous was the top scorer with 44 runs, while Sanjay Krishnamurthi added 41 runs off just 18 balls to keep their hopes alive for a short while.
However, regular wickets disrupted their chase. India A’s bowling, led by Ravi Bishnoi, maintained pressure during the middle overs. Bishnoi took three wickets, while Khaleel Ahmed and Naman Dhir collectively claimed 4 wickets.
