India A put up a solid show in ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 warm-up clash, registering a dominant 38-run victory over the United States at Dr DY Patil Sports Academy in Navi Mumbai. The highlight was a stunning century from Narayan Jagadeesan, underscoring his red-hot form in domestic cricket.
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Masterclass from Tamil Nadu wicketkeeper
Electing to bat first, India A posted a formidable 238 for 3 in 20 overs, largely on the back of Jagadeesan’s spectacular innings. The Tamil Nadu wicketkeeper-batter raced to 104 off just 55 balls, lacing his knock with 11 fours and five towering sixes as he tore into the USA bowling attack. His century came off 49 deliveries, reflecting blistering intent and excellent timing in a match that served as valuable match practice for both sides before the tournament proper.
Jagadeesan anchored the innings from the outset, combining aggression with smart shot selection that kept the scoreboard ticking. After his dismissal, India A’s captain Ayush Badoni kept the momentum high with an unbeaten 60 off 26 balls, ensuring the hosts finished with a commanding total.
USA fightback falls short
Chasing 239, the USA showed glimpses of resistance, with spirited contributions in the middle order, but regular breakthroughs from India A’s bowlers kept the pressure high throughout. Tight spells and sharp fielding ensured the chase never gathered real traction, and the USA were eventually dismissed for 200 in 19.4 overs, handing India A a comfortable win. Ravi Bishnoi scalped 3 wickets for India A, while Khaleel Ahmed & Naman Dhir also picked 2 wickets each.
Jagadeesan’s domestic form & IPL career
Jagadeesan’s performance in the warm-up match plugges into a long career of prolific scoring in Indian domestic cricket. Renowned for his consistency, he holds the highest individual score in List A cricket (277), a landmark innings from 2022 that remains a standout in domestic records. He has been a reliable run-getter across formats.
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Though Jagadeesan has starred consistently in domestic cricket, his opportunities in the Indian Premier League (IPL) have been limited. Across 13 IPL matches, he has scored 162 runs, with a highest score of 39, and has averaged around 18, reflecting sporadic outings for franchises like Chennai Super Kings and Kolkata Knight Riders earlier in his career. The numbers indicate that while he has enjoyed flashes of high-level exposure, a regular starting role has eluded him in the lucrative T20 league.
What next for the in-form batter
At the IPL 2026 mini-auction, despite his growing reputation in domestic cricket, Jagadeesan went unsold, a surprising outcome given his ability with the bat and recent form leading into the T20 World Cup cycle. Franchises’ decision to pass on him could reflect the intense competition for limited slots and the depth of wicketkeeping batting options in the auction pool. This latest century in a high-profile warm-up match may, however, reinforce his value to teams looking for explosive top-order options in case of any injuries to their squad members.
