In a sport often defined by fine margins, India A’s exit from the DP World 2025 Rising Stars Asia Cup Semi-Final will be remembered for a baffling tactical call to bench Vaibhav Suryavanshi in the Super Over. After a high-octane chase where both teams finished locked at 194, India A handed the game to Bangladesh A by scoring exactly zero runs in the one-over eliminator.

The match itself was a rollercoaster. Chasing a steep target of 195, India A’s response was ignited by the tournament’s sensation, 14-year-old Vaibhav Suryavanshi. The young prodigy has been the find of the tournament, and today was no different. He blasted a quickfire 38 runs off just 15 balls, striking at a rate of over 253. His fearless hitting in the Powerplay kept India ahead of the required rate and set the platform for what should have been a comfortable win.

However, when the match ended in a tie, courtesy of a chaotic final ball where India scrambled three runs, all eyes turned to the Super Over. Logic suggested that Suryavanshi, the tournament’s leading run-scorer (239 runs), who was seeing the ball like a football, would walk out to bat.

In a move that puzzled fans and experts alike, the team management opted for experience over form. Captain Jitesh Sharma and all-rounder Ashutosh Sharma walked out instead. The result was catastrophic. Bangladesh pacer Ripon Mondol bowled Jitesh on the first ball and had Ramandeep caught on the second. India A was bowled out for 0 runs in two balls. Bangladesh A chased down the 1-run target via a wide ball to seal their spot in the final.

The decision to bench Suryavanshi likely stemmed from a desire to protect the 14-year-old from the crushing pressure of a Super Over. Coaches often favor senior pros in “crunch moments,” trusting their nerves over a youngster’s raw talent. Yet, in doing so, they sidelined their most destructive weapon. It was a “safety-first” approach in a format that demands risk, and it ultimately cost India A a shot at the trophy.