Three graduates of the East Bay Blazers Cricket Academy’s Elite Development Program — Ayaan Khan, Syon Kurdekar and Avyukth Raghunarayan — combined for a late rally against the San Ramon Grizzlies on Sept. 20, 2026, as the Blazers fell 10 runs short in a closely contested chase.

The Blazers, led by Sanjay Krishnamurthi, a top-order batter for the San Francisco Unicorns and a member of the USA national team, featured a lineup that included fellow Unicorns player Saideep Ganesh and Abhishek Paradkar of the Washington Freedom. Krishnamurthi had also recently competed in the ETPL.
East Bay Blazers Academy graduates Avyukth Raghunarayan, Ayaan Khan and Syon Kurdekar partaking in Minor League Cricket, combined for a late rally against the San Ramon Grizzlies on Sept. 20, 2026.

The lineup brought together professional players, Academy coaches and emerging youth cricketers, providing the Elite Program graduates with an opportunity to compete alongside experienced players.

Chasing 147 for victory, East Bay Blazers lost wickets through the middle overs and appeared to be falling out of contention. However, the Academy trio combined for 34 runs in the final 2.3 overs, giving the chase a late surge.

Raghunarayan led the scoring during the closing burst with 17 off 10 balls, while Khan contributed a quickfire six off five deliveries. Kurdekar remained unbeaten on 11 off seven balls as the Blazers continued to press until the end.

The effort was not enough to secure victory. East Bay Blazers were dismissed for 136 in 19.4 overs, finishing 10 runs short of the Grizzlies’ 146-8.

Raghunarayan also made an impact with the ball, returning figures of 2-15 from four overs at an economy rate of 3.75. His spell was the most economical of the innings, highlighting his contribution in both departments.

Academy coaches Angelo Perera, Suliman Arabzai, Sidhant Reddy and Faisal Khan Ahmadzai also featured in the Blazers’ playing XI, taking the field alongside players they help develop.

The match brought together established professionals, a USA international, coaching staff and Academy graduates in the same lineup, reflecting the club’s approach to providing young cricketers with opportunities to gain experience in senior-level competition.

Although the Blazers fell short, the Academy viewed the performance as an encouraging sign of its ongoing investment in youth development. The late rally offered its young players an opportunity to demonstrate their composure and skills in a competitive match against experienced opposition.

The Elite Development Program is scheduled to feature in the Blazers’ next two fixtures, with additional emerging players expected to take part. The Academy also announced that its broader development squad would begin featuring on Friday as part of its continued efforts to expand youth cricket in the region.