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[Relive] How Suryakumar Yadav And KL Rahul Emerged Heroes In Emerging Asia Cup 2013 Final Against Pakistan

image-lkf5i73xKL Rahul top scored for India U-23 in 2013 Emerging Asia Cup (Twitter)

India A and Pakistan A to face each other in the final of the 2023 ACC Emerging Teams Asia Cup in Colombo. The two teams also came into collision earlier in the tournament, with India A emerging victorious in a one-sided Group B affair at the same venue.

Notably, their upcoming clash will mark their first meeting in an ACC Emerging Asia Cup final in nearly 10 years. Back in 2013, their Under-23 sides went toe-to-toe with each other, where a young KL Rahul was seen sowing seeds of his batting greatness as a 21-year-old.

KL Rahul’s batting blitz won it for India in 2013

India Under-23 team toured Singapore back in 2013 for the first ever edition of the ACC Emerging Asia Cup. Led by Suryakumar Kumar, the young unit featured the likes of Axar Patel, Jasprit Bumrah and KL Rahul long before any of them made their international debuts.

The ‘Boys in Blue’ defeated Pakistan Under-23 twice in the tournament, including once in the summit clash at the Kallang Ground. Rahul top-scored with an unbeaten 93 in the final, as the right-hander aced an easy run-chase for India Under-23 to lift the inaugural trophy.

Remarkably, the then 21-year-old was in blistering touch with the bat throughout the week-long event in Singapore. He amassed 321 runs across five innings at an average of 80.25. Rahul registered three fifty-plus scores in the 50-overs competition, and was fittingly adjudged as the ‘Player of the Tournament’.

In the meantime, India A also look clear favourites to seal the 2023 title. They are yet to lose a single game this tournament, and their Group B against Pakistan A will serve as a huge confidence booster for the Yash Dhull-led side.