Sri Lanka’s superstar opener Pathum Nissanka broke India legend Virat Kohli’s record for most 50-plus scores in the T20 Asia Cup with his stunning century against India in the 2025 edition of the tournament on Friday. Batting in the Super-Four stage of the tournament at the Dubai International Stadium, Nissanka reached his fifty off 25 balls and his century off just 52 balls.
This was his fifth 50-plus score in the tournament after 12 innings. Kohli has four after nine innings, followed by Pakistan’s Mohammad Rizwan (six innings), Kusal Mendis (12 innings), and Abhishek Sharma (six innings) tied at three. Interestingly, Nissanka reached his three figures with a six down the ground and celebrated with a ‘keep talking’ celebration with his hands,
reminiscent of Kohli’s in Perth against Australia in 2018.
It wasn’t the only Kohli record he broke in the day, either, going past the Indian right-hander for the most runs in T20 Asia Cups as well. Moreover, he became the fourth Sri Lankan to hit a T20I century and only the third batter in the world after Kohli and Babar Azam to hit one in the T20 Asia Cups. The technique and confidence he showed against some of the best bowlers in the world of the top-ranked T20I side proved that he truly belonged with those names.
India beat Sri Lanka in the super-over
India clinched a dramatic win over Sri Lanka in Dubai, holding their nerve in a tense Super Over. After Abhishek Sharma’s blistering 61 and Tilak Varma’s unbeaten 49 lifted India to 202/5, the chase was powered by Nissanka and Avishka Perera, who added 128 runs in under 12 overs.
Kuldeep Yadav and Varun Chakravarthy turned the game around by removing Perera and triggering a collapse, but Dasun Shanaka’s late cameo kept Sri Lanka in the hunt. With three needed off Harshit Rana’s final delivery, Shanaka could only manage two, forcing the decider.
Arshdeep Singh bowled a sensational Super Over, conceding just two runs and taking two wickets. Suryakumar Yadav smashed the first ball for a boundary to seal the result. Despite an expensive outing for the pacers, India showed their temperament under pressure, a huge boost heading into the title clash against Pakistan on Sunday.
