Asia Cup 2025, IND vs SL: Despite Pahthum Nissanka’s fighting century, India edge Sri Lanka in thrilling Super Over finish.
Brief Scores: India 202/5 (Abhishek Sharma 61, Tilak Varma 49*, Charith Asalanka 1/18) tied with Sri Lanka 202/5 (Pathum Nissanka 107, Kusal Perera 58, Hardik Pandya 1/7). India won in a super over.
In what was an inconsequential game in this Asia Cup 2025 Super Four contest between India and Sri Lanka, we witnessed a thriller. The match ended in a tie following a superlative century by the opener Pathum Nissanka in Sri Lanka’s chase of 203.
In the super over that followed, India brushed aside their neighbours to remain undefeated going into the final fixture.
Talking Point: India’s worrisome powerplay bowling
India’s powerplay bowling, especially the combination of Arshdeep Singh and Harshit Rana, is a real cause of concern. In this game, both these bowlers bowled two overs apiece, with Arshdeep conceding 26 and Harshit 28. As a result of their wayward bowling and ineffectiveness, Sri Lanka amassed 72 runs in the first six overs, the highest powerplay score in this Asia Cup.
Even in their only other game against Oman in the Asia Cup 2025, they conceded 32 runs cumulatively off the four powerplay overs without taking a single wicket. While Arshdeep has been a wicket-taker, he hasn’t looked at his best in this Asia Cup with the new ball. On the other hand, Harshit was poor in his execution in both games.
Read More: Asia Cup 2025, Super 4, IND vs BAN: India seal Final spot despite shaky batting
Abhishek’s blitz takes India to their first 200+ score in Asia Cup 2025
Sri Lanka won the toss and inserted the Suryakumar Yadav-led side to bat first in the tournament’s last super four game.
Shubman Gill endured another failure in the tournament as he departed quite early in the piece to a great return catch by Maheesh Theekshana.
Despite losing his opening partner, Abhishek Sharma continued his blistering form as he ensured India reached 71/1 in the powerplays.
The left-hander played a dominant innings (61 off 31), even as skipper Suryakumar Yadav fell without scoring much.
Following a mishit, Abhishek was holed out in the deep, missing out on a big score. However, the pair of Sanju Samson (39) and Tilak Varma (49*) cashed in on the solid platform laid by the left-hander as they added 66 runs for the fourth wicket in under seven overs, propelling India to 202, the first 200+ score of the tournament.
Read More: Asia Cup 2025, IND vs PAK: Abhishek, Shubman’s explosive stand powers India to 4-1 lead over Pakistan
Nissanka’s stunning century nearly wins it for Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka started off their chase on a disappointing note, losing Kusal Mendis for a duck, his second in as many innings. Things followed a similar suit in the Lanka innings, with Pathum Nissanka playing the role of an aggressor here. He, along with Kusal Perera, hammered India’s lead pacers, Arshdeep Singh and Harshit Rana (54 runs in four overs), in the powerplays, as Sri Lanka piled up 72 runs in that phase.
The pair went from strength to strength as they were always ahead in the chase, reaching the 100-run mark in the ninth over. At the halfway mark, they had already covered 114 of the 203 to be scored. Perera’s departure for a well-compiled 32-ball 58 slowed down the proceedings a bit even though Nissanka got to his maiden T20I century off just 52 balls.
Sri Lanka needed just 42 runs off the last four with seven wickets still in hand, but some great death bowling saw the game end in a tie. The match went to a super over, where India chased down the 3 runs set by Sri Lanka in a canter.
Read More: Is Sanju Samson’s game suited for the middle order in T20 cricket?
Statistical highlights from IND vs SL clash in Men’s T20 Asia Cup 2025:
- Abhishek Sharma (309) is now the third-leading run-scorer in the Men’s T20 Asia Cup
- Abhishek is now only the second Indian batter to register 300+ runs in a multi-nation T20I series. Virat Kohli is the other one with 319 runs in the T20 World Cup 2014
- Suryakumar Yadav was dismissed for the second time by Wanindu Hasaranga in T20Is
- Sanju Samson registered his joint third-highest score (39) while batting at no. 4-7 in T20Is
- India notched up their sixth 200+ team total against Sri Lanka in T20Is
- Pathum Nissanka (434) has overtaken Virat Kohli (429) to become the leading run-scorer in the Men’s T20 Asia Cup.
- Nissanka’s 107 is just the third century scored in a Men’s T20 Asia Cup
What’s Next
For the first time in 41 years of Asia Cup history, India and Pakistan will face off in the final. This will be the third match between these sides in the Asia Cup, with India coming out victorious on both previous occasions.
India showed why they are no.1 T20 team, forcing match into the Super Over despite Nissanka’s incandescent century which had all but sealed a win for his team. From there it was a hop and a skip to victory for SKY & Co as the Lankans fizzled out.
— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) September 26, 2025
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