It was billed as a dead rubber, but the cricketing drama at Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Friday, September 26, 2025, was anything but dull. India and Sri Lanka, two giants of Asian cricket, locked horns in the last Super Four clash of the Asia Cup 2025, producing a heart-stopping contest that had fans on the edge of their seats until the very last ball—and then some!
With India already assured of a spot in the final and Sri Lanka eliminated after two Super Four losses, the stakes on paper seemed low. But try telling that to the players. As India captain Suryakumar Yadav put it, "It felt like a final." And how right he was. The match saw records tumble, nerves fray, and a Super Over finish that added yet another thrilling chapter to the storied rivalry between these two sides.
India’s top order, led by the red-hot Abhishek Sharma, set the tone early. Sharma, who has been in sublime form throughout the tournament, notched his third consecutive half-century in the Super Fours, racing to 50 off just 22 balls. He eventually fell for a blistering 61 off 31 deliveries, smashing two sixes and eight fours. This knock not only anchored India’s innings but also propelled Sharma past the 300-run mark in the tournament—making him the highest run-getter in a single edition of a T20 Asia Cup, surpassing the previous records held by Mohammad Rizwan and Virat Kohli.
After Sharma’s dismissal in the ninth over, Sanju Samson (39 off 23) and Tilak Varma (an unbeaten 49 off 34) kept the scoreboard ticking. The duo stitched together a vital 66-run stand for the fourth wicket, ensuring India maintained their momentum. Axar Patel’s late cameo of 21 runs, capped with a last-ball six, lifted India to 202/5—the highest total of the tournament so far and the first time any side had breached the 200-run mark in this edition.
Chasing 203, Sri Lanka faced an early setback as Kusal Mendis was sent packing for a golden duck by Hardik Pandya in the opening over. But Pathum Nissanka, undeterred, launched a counterattack for the ages. Teaming up with Kusal Perera, Nissanka took Sri Lanka to 72/1 in the powerplay, both batsmen reaching their fifties in just 25 balls apiece. Their partnership of 127 off 70 balls was the first century stand for Sri Lanka against India in T20Is since November 2023.
Varun Chakravarthy finally broke the partnership in the 13th over, removing Perera for a well-made 58. But Nissanka continued his onslaught, reaching his maiden T20 international century—the first of the Asia Cup 2025—by hammering a maximum in the 17th over. His innings, laced with six sixes and seven fours, kept Sri Lanka in the hunt even as wickets tumbled at the other end.
As the pressure mounted, India’s bowlers struck back. Kuldeep Yadav and Arshdeep Singh picked up crucial wickets, including Charith Asalanka and Kamindu Mendis, to slow Sri Lanka’s charge. With 33 needed off the last three overs and Nissanka still at the crease, the tension was palpable. Harshit Rana eventually dismissed Nissanka in the final over, but not before the Sri Lankan opener had scored a breathtaking 107 off 58 balls.
Dasun Shanaka, coming in late, tried to finish the job with a quickfire 22 not out off 11 balls. With 12 required off the final five deliveries, Sri Lanka managed 11, tying the score at 202/5 and forcing a Super Over—a rarity in high-stakes international cricket and only the third time 200-plus totals have resulted in a tie between ICC full member nations, with India involved in two of those occasions.
The Super Over, however, was all India. Arshdeep Singh, showing nerves of steel, bowled to perfection. He dismissed both Kusal Perera and Dasun Shanaka, limiting Sri Lanka to just two runs in four balls. Suryakumar Yadav then strode in and, with a flourish, scored three runs off the very first delivery to seal the win for India. The victory ensured India finished the Super Four stage unbeaten and carried huge momentum into the final.
“We wanted to keep the momentum going ahead of the final, and the boys showed great character under pressure,” said Suryakumar Yadav during the post-match presentation. His leadership, along with the team’s collective grit, has been a highlight of India’s campaign.
For Sri Lanka, the result was bittersweet. Pathum Nissanka’s heroic century went in vain, but his performance—along with the partnership with Kusal Perera—offered fans a glimpse of the team’s potential. "We fought hard, but sometimes cricket is a cruel game. We’ll take the positives and come back stronger," said Sri Lanka’s captain Charith Asalanka.
Abhishek Sharma’s tournament tally now stands at a staggering 309 runs, with an average and strike rate that have left statisticians scrambling. Kuldeep Yadav, meanwhile, continues to top the wicket charts with 12 scalps from five matches, underlining India’s bowling depth.
Looking ahead, all eyes are now on the Asia Cup final, where India will face their arch-rivals Pakistan on Sunday, September 28, 2025. It will be the first India-Pakistan final in the Asia Cup—across all formats—since 1984, adding another layer of anticipation to what is already one of the sport’s most storied rivalries. India enters the final with a psychological edge, having bested Pakistan twice in the ongoing tournament, but as every cricket fan knows, form and history often take a back seat when these two teams meet.
There’s also been a touch of controversy, with India’s previous matches against Pakistan making headlines for a lack of post-match handshakes. While the focus remains on cricket, such moments remind us that the stakes in an India-Pakistan clash go far beyond the boundary ropes.
As the dust settles on a thrilling Super Four stage, India’s unbeaten run, Sharma’s batting heroics, and Nissanka’s valiant century will be the talking points. But with the grand finale looming, the cricketing world can hardly wait for another epic showdown in Dubai. Will India complete a perfect campaign, or will Pakistan spoil the party? The stage is set, and fans across the globe are counting down the hours.
