Asia Cup 2025: India vs Sri Lanka, Match 18 - Who Said What?

Published - 26 Sept 2025, 23:59 IST | Updated - 27 Sept 2025, 00:54 IST

India registered a Super Over win over Sri Lanka in Dubai to maintain their unbeaten run in the Asia Cup 2025 Super Four stage. The dead rubber before the final turned into a nail-biting contest with Pathum Nissanka’s scintillating century nearly spoiling India’s party.

Asked to bat first, India posted 202/5, their highest total of the tournament. Abhishek Sharma provided a flying start with 61 off 31 balls, lacing his knock with seven fours and two sixes. Tilak Varma anchored the middle overs with an unbeaten 49 off 34, while Sanju Samson added 24. Sri Lanka’s bowlers picked wickets at regular intervals but none could stop the flow of runs as India crossed the 200-mark with ease.

Sri Lanka’s reply was solid, thanks to Nissanka, who produced his maiden T20I century. Alongside Kusal Perera, he stitched a record 127-run stand, putting India on the back foot. Perera’s 54 off 27 kept the chase alive, but Kuldeep Yadav and Varun Chakravarthy slowed things down in the middle overs, triggering a mini-collapse.

Still, Sri Lanka dragged the game into the final over, needing 12. Harshit Rana dismissed Nissanka for a superb 107 off the very first ball, but Dasun Shanaka’s efforts, along with Indian fielding fumbles, took the equation down to 3 runs off the last ball. Shanaka managed only two, leaving the match tied at 202 apiece.

Asia Cup 2025: Hilarious Reactions from IND vs SL, Match 18

The contest moved to a Super Over, where Suryakumar Yadav trusted Arshdeep Singh with the ball. The left-arm pacer delivered under pressure and dismissed both Perera and Shanaka. Perera perished on the first ball, while Shanaka fell trying to push the score. Sri Lanka managed just 2/2 in six balls.

India needed only three to win, and Suryakumar finished it in style off the first delivery, punching Wanindu Hasaranga through cover for three runs.

The result extended India’s perfect record in tied T20Is as they have now won all six decided via Super Over or Bowl Out. For Sri Lanka, it was their fourth defeat in six Super Over contests.

It felt like a final (laughs). The boys showed a lot of character after the first half in the second innings. Told them to play this like a semi-final. Get everyone close in, have good energy and then let's see what happens. Good to be on the winning side. To have that start, and then someone like Sanju and Tilak batting that way and taking the tempo ahead from where Abhishek left (cannot say from where I left it)…Sanju not opening, going down the order, taking responsibility and Tilak taking confidence and responsibility, that was good to see. Arshdeep has been in that situation a lot of time and he has delivered for us. I only told him to back your own plans and not to think about anything. We are already in the finals, but have your own plans and execute it. I have seen him execute his plans, do really well for India and his IPL franchise. His confidence says it all and no one but Arshdeep for that Super Over. Let's have a good recovery tonight. Let us not think about that (the final) right now. Few boys had a lot of cramps today. Have a good recovery day tomorrow and we will turn up the same way we did today. What I wanted from the boys, just trying to execute their plans, be clear and not to fear, that was really important and I am sure everyone got what they wanted. Happy to be in the final.

It was a fabulous game and we were in the game until Varun and Kuldeep bowled those middle overs. It was unbelievable batting (from Nissanka), they have some extremely good bowlers and it was really good to see him bat with that attacking approach. Lots of positives from the Asia Cup. We have been playing good cricket and unfortunately we couldn't win in the last 2 games. As a captain, there are a lot of positives to take.