At the 2026 National School Games A Division Cricket Final on April 29 at the Ceylon Sports Club, the result will be recorded as a narrow two-run win for Raffles Junior College (RJC) over Victoria Junior College (VJC).
But that bare statistic conceals a far richer story – one of an underdog side that came within touching distance of rewriting the script of schools cricket in Singapore.
For VJC, this was not just a final. It was the culmination of a remarkable transformation.
A year ago, they were winless. In 2025, they endured a season without a single victory, despite flashes of talent. Fast forward to 2026, and they arrived at the final as table-toppers, having beaten both traditional powerhouses – RJC and Anglo-Chinese Junior College (ACJC) – and ending long-standing losing streaks along the way.
Their one win over ACJC and two convincing victories over RJC in the league phase were not aberrations. They were statements.
Much of this resurgence can be traced to a shift in mindset and structure under coach Satyam Sandrasegaran. “The main thing was to give them confidence,” he said. “They were always losing by small margins. Once they believed they could win, everything changed.”
That belief was evident in the final.
Batting first, RJC, coached by Sachin Banamali, posted a modest 125 for 9, with Maheshwaran Aditya top-scoring with 37. VJC’s bowlers were disciplined and incisive – Vihan Nagar (3-35), Abhinandan Vasanthakumar (3-14) and Kapish Venkatram (2-18), ensuring the defending champions never broke free.
In reply, VJC looked in control for large parts of the chase. Captain Aryan Voleti led from the front with a composed 51, adding 48 runs with Aditya Kaushik (22) for the third wicket. At 29 runs needed off 30 balls, the equation was firmly in their favour.
“I thought the game was gone at that stage,” admitted RJC captain Neil Chaturvedi later. “Something just went in our favour.”
That “something” was a mix of pressure, inexperience, and perhaps, fate.
The turning point came with Voleti’s dismissal. RJC sensed an opening and tightened their lines. VJC, instead of rotating strike, went searching for boundaries. “We were on top till the last over,” said Satyam. “But the set batsmen threw it away. We needed singles, not big shots.”
Yet, the most decisive moment had occurred much earlier – almost unnoticed.
During RJC’s innings, a delivery that beat the bat struck the helmet placed behind the wicketkeeper, resulting in five penalty runs. At the time, it seemed incidental. With hindsight, it was anything but.
VJC finished on 123 for 6 – two runs short. Strip the match to its arithmetic, and that five-run penalty becomes impossible to ignore.
But reducing the result to that moment alone would be unfair – both to RJC’s resilience and VJC’s journey.
RJC, to their credit, held their nerve when it mattered most. “We fielded well and didn’t make mistakes towards the end,” said Neil. “In close games, that makes the difference.”
For VJC, however, the defeat does not diminish what they have achieved.
“We didn’t go wrong,” said Voleti. “It was just a bit of a fumble at the end… maybe luck.”
That assessment captures the essence of their campaign. This was a team that outplayed opponents for most of the tournament, played fearless cricket, and reached their first A Division final through merit, not chance.
More importantly, they have altered the competitive landscape.
“For years, it’s been RJC and ACJC,” said veteran cricketer and coach S. Sivalingam, who now guides Broadrick Secondary. “VJC’s run shows what is possible when belief and structure come together.”
Indeed, their emergence could mark a turning point for schools cricket in Singapore – a reminder that the sport’s depth extends beyond its traditional strongholds.
From a winless season to a final decided by two runs, VJC’s story is one of progress, not heartbreak.
They may have fallen short this time. But in doing so, they have announced themselves – not as outsiders, but as a team to be reckoned with.
