Dubai: What was billed as a dead Super 4 rubber turned into one of the most gripping contests of the Asia Cup 2025, as Sri Lanka pushed India all the way before falling short in a Super Over finish.
Invited to bat first, India posted a commanding 202 for 5 in their 20 overs. Abhishek Sharma’s bright start was carried forward by Sanju Samson and Tilak Varma, who kept the tempo high after a quick cameo from Suryakumar Yadav. The total looked more than enough when Hardik Pandya struck early, removing Kusal Mendis in the very first over of Sri Lanka’s chase.
But what followed was nothing short of breathtaking. Pathum Nissanka and Kusal Perera turned the match on its head with a blistering 127-run stand off just 70 deliveries. Perera fell for 58, but Nissanka powered on to a magnificent 52-ball hundred, eventually scoring 107 off 58. India’s bowlers, led by Varun Chakravarthy and Kuldeep Yadav in the middle overs, clawed their way back to push the game into a Super Over.
From there, India’s experience came through. Arshdeep Singh, trusted with the ball, held his nerve yet again to seal a straightforward win in the one-over shootout, stretching India’s unbeaten run in the tournament to six matches.
“It felt like a final,” joked India skipper Suryakumar Yadav after the tense finish. “The boys showed a lot of character. We just wanted to stay clear in our plans and fearless in execution. Credit to Arshdeep—he has been in this situation before and delivered for us.”
Sri Lanka captain Charith Asalanka, though disappointed, was upbeat about his side’s fight. “It was a fabulous game. We were handling it nicely until Varun and Kuldeep bowled those crucial overs. Nissanka and Perera batted unbelievably well. There are a lot of positives for us despite not finishing the last two games on the right note.”
The result ensures India march into the final with momentum, but also with a reminder that they can be pushed to the brink. For Sri Lanka, despite the heartbreak, the night belonged to Nissanka’s stunning hundred—an innings that lit up Dubai and gave India a proper scare.
