The T20 Asia Cup witnessed an unexpected twist as Sri Lanka delivered a stern wake-up call to India, pushing them into a thrilling Super Over during an otherwise non-consequential Super Four match. Pursuing India’s impressive 202-run target – the tournament’s first score exceeding 200 – the Sri Lankan team, propelled by a blistering 127-run partnership from just 70 balls between Pathum Nissanka and Kusal Perera, managed to tie the score on the very last ball of the innings. However, their momentum faltered in the Super Over, where they lost two quick wickets, leaving India a mere three runs to chase. The Men in Blue swiftly completed the task on the first delivery, securing a narrow victory.
Right from the start, Nissanka and Perera launched a relentless assault on the Indian bowlers, amassing a massive 114 runs within the first 10 overs. Bowlers like Arshdeep Singh and Harshit Rana bore the brunt of their aggression, collectively conceding 100 runs in their combined eight overs. Nissanka was the undisputed highlight, crafting the tournament’s inaugural century – a magnificent 107 runs off just 58 balls, featuring seven boundaries and six towering sixes. He celebrated his milestone with a spectacular six off Arshdeep in the 17th over, joining an elite group as only the third player, alongside Virat Kohli and Babar Hayat (Hong Kong), to achieve a T20 Asia Cup hundred.
The crucial partnership was finally shattered by Varun Chakravarthy, who cleverly enticed Perera out of his crease, allowing Sanju Samson to execute a swift stumping. With the final over commencing, Rana then claimed the prize wicket of Nissanka on its very first ball, leaving Sri Lanka with the daunting task of scoring 12 runs from the remaining five deliveries. Despite a valiant effort from Dasun Shanaka and Janith Liyanage, they could only muster 11 runs, dramatically forcing the match into a Super Over.
Earlier in the game, India’s top-order batsmen finally found their rhythm, posting an impressive total of 202 – their first 200-plus score of the tournament. This formidable innings was largely powered by Abhishek Sharma, who blasted his third consecutive half-century, scoring 61 runs off just 31 balls, including eight fours and two sixes. The 25-year-old’s stellar performance brought his tournament total to an astounding 309 runs, surpassing Mohammad Rizwan’s 2022 record of 281 to become the highest scorer in a single Asia Cup.
Sharma’s explosive scoring came at an incredible strike rate of 204.63, embellished with 19 sixes and 31 fours. His form was impeccable; he initiated his innings by launching an 88-meter six off Maheesh Theekshana and aggressively took 15 runs from Dushmantha Chameera’s opening over. He notched his sixth T20I fifty in a mere 22 balls before a misjudged shot off a loose delivery from Charith Asalanka led to his dismissal, caught by Kamindu Mendis at mid-wicket, leaving him visibly displeased with himself.
Tilak Varma, with a quickfire 49 runs off 34 balls (four fours, one six), and Sanju Samson, contributing 29 runs off 23 deliveries (one four, three sixes), maintained India’s scoring momentum through a crucial 66-run partnership for the fifth wicket. Axar Patel’s powerful six off the final ball of the innings pushed India’s total past the 200-run milestone. Meanwhile, Captain Suryakumar Yadav’s struggles continued; his brief stay at the crease ended with a dismissal by Wanindu Hasaranga, a decision he unsuccessfully reviewed. Since assuming captaincy, Yadav has scored only 99 runs across 10 innings at an average of 12, highlighting the significant challenge he faces in the upcoming final against Pakistan.
Shubman Gill’s difficulties in the tournament continued, as he was dismissed early, caught and bowled by Theekshana. With a series of modest scores in this Asia Cup (20*, 10, 5, 47, 29, and 4), Gill will be under immense pressure to perform in the grand final. Hardik Pandya managed only 2 runs before being caught from a top-edged pull shot off Chameera. Further compounding India’s concerns, Pandya bowled merely one over before exiting the field due to an apparent niggle, after successfully catching Kusal Mendis in the slips.
For this particular match, India had strategically rested key players Jasprit Bumrah and Shivam Dube, opting instead for Arshdeep and Rana, who unfortunately experienced a challenging performance on the field.