A breathtaking Pathum Nissanka century nearly carried Sri Lanka to victory, but India held their nerve to edge through in a nail-biting Super Over. With Jasprit Bumrah rested, Arshdeep Singh stepped up under pressure as Sri Lanka faltered in bizarre fashion, handing India a dramatic passage to the Asia Cup final against Pakistan.
India marched into the Asia Cup final undefeated after a gripping clash against Sri Lanka that ended in a rare tie and was decided in a dramatic Super Over. Both sides posted identical totals of 202 for 5 in regulation play, with Pathum Nissanka’s brilliant 107 off 58 balls and Kusal Perera’s fiery 58 off 32 nearly taking Sri Lanka across the line. For India, Abhishek Sharma lit up the powerplay with 61 from 31 deliveries, while Tilak Varma anchored the back end with an unbeaten 49 off 34. But while the main contest was thrilling, the Super Over descended into chaos for Sri Lanka and sealed India’s victory.
Sri Lanka batted first in the Super Over but surprisingly kept Nissanka, their form batter, in the dugout. Instead, they sent out Kusal Perera and Dasun Shanaka, with Kamindu Mendis following. Perera sliced the first ball from Arshdeep Singh to point where substitute Rinku Singh took a sharp catch. Mendis came in but struggled to get bat on ball, scrambling only a single. Shanaka, too, was shackled by Arshdeep’s pinpoint wide yorkers, and a bizarre sequence followed.
Attempting a quick bye, Shanaka was seemingly run out at the striker’s end, but because Arshdeep had already appealed for a caught behind dismissal, the umpire raised his finger for that first. Shanaka immediately reviewed, and because the caught behind was overturned, the run out was negated as a “dead ball.” The reprieve was short-lived, however, as Shanaka top-edged the very next ball to third man, leaving Sri Lanka with a paltry two runs in their Super Over. India needed just three, and Suryakumar Yadav coolly cracked the first delivery from Wanindu Hasaranga through cover for a boundary, laughing off the tension. India sealed the win with minimal fuss and advanced to the final against arch-rivals Pakistan.
Earlier in the evening, India’s innings had been set up by Abhishek Sharma’s blistering start. Even after Shubman Gill’s early dismissal, Abhishek tore into the Sri Lankan attack, hammering Dushmantha Chameera for towering sixes and racing to his half-century in just 22 balls. By the end of the powerplay, India were cruising at 71 for 1. Abhishek eventually miscued Charith Asalanka to deep midwicket, but his 61 off 31 had already done the damage. Partnerships through the middle held India steady, with Tilak Varma and Sanju Samson adding 66, before Tilak finished unbeaten on 49 to carry India to 202 for 5.
Sri Lanka’s response was powered by a historic knock from Nissanka. Having been quiet in the Super Four stage, he unleashed his full range of strokes, driving Hardik Pandya through point, hooking short deliveries over square leg, and punishing seamers down the ground. He raced to fifty in 25 balls, and as Kusal Perera launched his own counterattack, the pair added 127 runs off just 70 balls, the highest partnership of the tournament. Nissanka’s assault peaked when he smashed Arshdeep Singh into the sightscreen to become Sri Lanka’s fourth male centurion in T20Is, reaching the milestone off 52 deliveries. His eventual 107 remains the highest individual T20I score for Sri Lanka, but despite his brilliance, the rest of the batting lineup failed to finish the chase.
That inability to close out the game cost Sri Lanka dearly. Even with momentum behind them, their choices in the Super Over proved costly, leaving fans bewildered at the absence of Nissanka in the most crucial moment. For India, however, the win reinforced their depth and resilience, especially with Jasprit Bumrah and Shivam Dube rested. Though their aura looked briefly dented, the ability to scrape through under pressure will encourage them as they prepare for a blockbuster final against Pakistan.
