India defeated Sri Lanka in the Super Over on Friday, September 26, to maintain their all-win record in the 2025 Asia Cup. The Dubai International Cricket Stadium hosted the most closely-contested encounter in this edition of the tournament.
After winning the toss and opting to bowl first, Sri Lanka got the wicket of Shubman Gill in the second over as Matheesha Pathirana took a brilliant catch of his own bowling. Suryakumar Yadav also failed to get going and departed for 12. However, Abhishek Sharma
continued his red-hot form in the tournament, smashing a 31-ball 61.
Tilak Varma (49*) and Sanju Samson (39) put on a 66-run stand in the middle overs to help India get to a solid platform before the death overs. After Hardik Pandya was dismissed cheaply, Axar Patel (21*) and Tilak forged an unbeaten 40-run stand off 23 balls to take India to 202/5 in 20 overs.
In reply, Sri Lanka lost Kusal Mendis for a golden duck. However, Pathum Nissanka and Kusal Perera joined forces to add 127 runs off 70 balls. This turned out to be the highest partnership in T20 Asia Cups. Thanks to their partnership, Sri Lanka were dominating the game heading into the final eight overs.
Varun Chakaravarthy dismissed Perera for a 32-ball 58. Charith Asalanka and Kamindu Mendis were dismissed for single-digit scores, but Dasun Shanaka gave Nissanka good support. Nissanka brought up his maiden T20I century with a six off Arshdeep Singh.
In the last over, Harshit Rana needed to defend 12 runs. He took the wicket of Nissanka off the first ball. Shanaka was on strike when Sri Lanka needed three runs off the final delivery. He only managed to get a couple as the match rolled into the Super Over.
Arshdeep conceded just two runs and picked up two wickets in five balls. Suryakumar needed just one ball from Wanindu Hasaranga to take three runs and give India their sixth consecutive victory in the tournament.
Key moments from IND vs SL, Super Four, Match 18 of Asia Cup 2025:
Patham Nissanka plays masterful knock
Pathum Nissanka played the knock of the tournament, and it was unfortunate that he had to end up on the losing side. The opening batter's 107 off 58 balls comprised seven fours and six sixes. He manoeuvred the field and hit boundaries in crucial stages, not allowing the required run rate to get out of hand. Nissanka flicked Harshit Rana off the stumps crisply, but he found Varun Chakaravarthy at short fine leg. The ball had a boundary written on it, but the mystery spinner was placed perfectly to take the catch.
Arshdeep Singh shows his class under pressure
Arshdeep Singh is India's highest wicket-taker in T20Is for a reason. He played just one game in the 2025 Asia Cup before this match. The left-arm pacer conceded 26 runs in his first two overs without picking up a wicket. However, he didn't panic and bowled two brilliant overs under pressure at the death. This included the big wicket of Kamindu Mendis. Arshdeep bowled brilliantly in the Super Over, giving away just two runs and picking up as many wickets.
Abhishek Sharma continues stunning form
Abhishek Sharma's immaculate form in the 2025 Asia Cup continued as he pulverised the Sri Lankan bowlers during his knock of 61 off 31 balls. The southpaw smashed eight fours and two sixes in his knock, finishing with a strike rate of 196.77. Sharma will head into the final against Pakistan oozing with confidence. During his innings, he broke Mohammad Rizwan's record for the most runs in a single edition of T20 Asia Cups.
