India Survives Sri Lanka’s Onslaught to Win Super Over Nail-Biter in Asia Cup Super Four
In one of the most pulsating encounters of the DP World Asia Cup 2025, India edged out Sri Lanka by a whisker in a Super Over decider at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on September 26. What began as a high-scoring slugfest—both teams posting identical 202/5 in their 20 overs—descended into heart-stopping drama under the floodlights, with Arshdeep Singh’s lethal Super Over bowling and Suryakumar Yadav’s ice-cool finishing stroke sealing a one-run victory for the Men in Blue. Pathum Nissanka’s blistering century lit up the night, but India’s composure in the crunch proved decisive, keeping their unbeaten run alive ahead of the final against Pakistan. Player of the Match honors went to Nissanka for his 107 off 58, a knock that nearly single-handedly hauled Sri Lanka to victory.
The 18th match of the tournament, a Super Four clash labeled a “dead rubber” by some due to both teams’ semi-final qualifications already secured, transcended expectations. Hosted entirely in the UAE amid regional tensions, the Asia Cup has been a cauldron of T20 fireworks since August 30. India, under the dynamic leadership of Suryakumar Yadav, topped the Super Four table with three wins from three, their batting depth and spin wizardry overwhelming opponents. Sri Lanka, the 2022 champions, entered on a high after a morale-boosting seven-wicket thrashing of Pakistan but carried scars from a group-stage loss to India.
India’s Super Four campaign had been clinical. A 42-run demolition of Afghanistan in Abu Dhabi showcased Kuldeep Yadav’s guile (3/22) and Shivam Dube’s all-round prowess, followed by an eight-wicket rout of Bangladesh where Abhishek Sharma’s explosive 102 off 55 set the tone. The think tank, blending youth with experience, rotated wisely—resting stars like Jasprit Bumrah to manage workload—yet the core remained unyielding. Suryakumar, captaining in Rohit Sharma’s absence, emphasized process: “We’re not chasing numbers; we’re building momentum for bigger battles.”
Sri Lanka, meanwhile, rediscovered their 2022 mojo. Captain Charith Asalanka’s tactical acumen shone in the seven-wicket win over Pakistan, where Pathum Nissanka (88*) and Kusal Perera’s cameos dismantled the opposition. The Islanders’ spin trio—Maheesh Theekshana, Wanindu Hasaranga, and Dunith Wellalage—had been kryptonite on turning Dubai tracks, conceding just 6.8 runs per over across the tournament. Yet, vulnerabilities lingered: their middle order’s fragility and pace bowling’s inconsistency, exposed in the earlier India loss.
With over 22,000 fans packing the stadium—expatriate Indians in blue dominating, countered by Sri Lankan drums and flags—the atmosphere crackled. Viewership spiked to 300 million globally, fueled by the rivalry’s lore. Pre-match, Asalanka won the toss and, eyeing the dew, opted to field—a call that sparked early promise but unraveled spectacularly.
India’s openers, Abhishek Sharma and Shubman Gill, ignited the innings with characteristic flair. Abhishek, the tournament’s leading run-scorer with 314 strikes at 200+, unleashed a barrage: eight fours and two sixes in his 61 off 31, including a flicked six off Matheesha Pathirana that sailed into the stands. Gill’s brief stay ended at 4, caught and bowled by Theekshana in the fourth over, but not before a crisp cover drive signaled intent. Fall of wicket: 15/1 in 1.3 overs.
Suryakumar Yadav joined the fray, but his lbw dismissal to Hasaranga for 12 (1×4) in the seventh over—trapped playing across the line—brought the scoreboard to 74/2. Enter Tilak Varma and Abhishek, who rebuilt with surgical precision. Their 18-run stand featured Abhishek’s lofted cover drive off Hasaranga, but tragedy struck at 92/3 when Asalanka, turning part-time wizard, induced a top-edge from Abhishek, snapped by Kamindu Mendis at short third man (8.4 overs).
Sanju Samson, promoted for his middle-over muscle, arrived with the required rate at 9.5. What followed was a clinic: 39 off 23, including three sixes—one a flat-batted rocket off Chameera over long-on—and a scooped four. Tilak, anchoring with poise, notched 49* off 34 (4×4, 1×6), his nurdles and whips keeping the bowlers guessing. The duo’s 66-run stand off 45 balls (4-158 at 15.3) propelled India past 180, a par score in dew-laden Dubai.
A mini-collapse loomed: Hardik Pandya, fresh from a T20I ton, holed out to Chameera for 2 (162/5 at 16.1). But Axar Patel’s unbeaten 21 off 15 (1×4, 1×6)—a slog-swept maximum off Shanaka—ensured momentum. Extras, including seven wides and two no-balls, inflated the total to 202/5. Sri Lanka’s bowlers toiled: Pathirana leaked 43 in fours (ECON 10.75), while Shanaka’s 18/1 off two was tidy. Hasaranga (37/1) and Theekshana (36/1) found turn, but the part-timers’ sloppiness hurt.
Suryakumar later quipped, “202 felt 20 short, but our bowlers backed the batters. Abhishek’s intent set the tone—like a final out there.”
Chasing 203, Sri Lanka’s openers Kusal Mendis and Pathum Nissanka faced a probing Arshdeep Singh. Disaster struck immediately: Mendis, on 0, edged Hardik Pandya’s first ball to Gill at slip (7/1 at 0.4). Enter Kusal Perera, the dasher from the 2012 glory days, who ignited the chase. His 58 off 32 (8×4, 1×6)—a whipped four off Arshdeep and a pulled six off Axar—meshed with Nissanka’s elegance.
Nissanka, the Colombo stylist, was poetry in motion. His 107 off 58 (7×4, 6×6) was a T20 treatise: a flicked six off Kuldeep’s googly, a cover drive piercing extra cover off Harshit Rana, and a slog-swept maximum that evoked Sanath Jayasuriya. The duo’s 127-run stand (2-134 at 12.2) dismantled India, with Perera stumped off Varun Chakaravarthy’s mystery spin—advancing and missing a reverse sweep.
At 157/3 after Asalanka’s soft dismissal (c Gill b Kuldeep for 5), Kamindu Mendis (3) fell to Arshdeep’s yorker, caught at deep midwicket (163/4 at 16.4). Shanaka joined Nissanka, adding 28 off 13 balls (2×4, 1×6), but the required rate climbed to 11. Nissanka’s fall at 191/5 (19.1, c Varun b Harshit for 107) left 12 off the last over.
Hasaranga, on strike, managed 2* off two balls, but a dot and a single left Shanaka needing a six off the final delivery from Harshit. The young pacer, nerves of steel, delivered a low full toss—Shanaka’s heave found deep midwicket. Tie! 202/5. India’s attack: Harshit 54/1, Arshdeep 46/1, Axar 32/0 (3 overs), Kuldeep and Varun sharing the rest.
Asalanka beamed, “Pathum and Kusal’s hitting was unbelievable. We had them rattled, but credit to India’s death bowling.”
Enter the Super Over, umpired by Paul Reiffel and Ahsan Raza. Arshdeep Singh, India’s death-over maestro (tournament 11 wickets), opened against Perera and Shanaka. First ball: Perera’s wild slog—bowled, middle stump cartwheeling! 0/1. Shanaka faced the second: a slower bouncer, edged behind. Samson pouched it, but Shanaka reviewed—caught behind overturned (snicko flat). Chaos ensued: run-out appeal as Perera scrambled back, but Law 20.1.1.3 deemed the ball dead post-caught call. Shanaka survived, scampered a leg-bye. Third ball: Shanaka yorked, 1/2. Final delivery: wide, then dot. Sri Lanka: 2/2.
India needed 3 off 6. Suryakumar Yadav, the 360-degree magician, faced Pathirana. First ball: full on off, SKY shuffled across and paddled a delicate scoop-glide over short fine leg for three! India 3/0 in 0.1. Euphoria erupted—hugs, roars, and a team huddle that drowned the anthems.
The controversy? Shanaka’s survival sparked debates—ex-umpire Simon Taufel endorsed the call on air, citing dead-ball rules. “It was a game of inches,” Suryakumar said. “Arshdeep’s execution under lights was gold.”
Presentation under the stars was electric. Nissanka, gracious in defeat, pocketed Player of the Match: “Feels like a win for Sri Lanka’s spirit. The surface helped batsmen, but India’s bowlers fought back.” Asalanka added, “A fabulous game—our message in the Super Over was ‘go big,’ but they held nerve. Positives outweigh the loss.”
Suryakumar praised the bench: “Tilak and Axar’s finishing, Sanju’s cameos—everyone stepped up. No training tomorrow; recovery for Pakistan.” Off-field, memes of Shanaka’s “zombie survival” trended, while Abhishek’s knock drew Kohli comparisons.
This tie encapsulated T20’s essence: volatility on a batsman’s paradise (true bounce, short boundaries). India’s 202/5 was propped by Abhishek’s aggression (SR 196) and Tilak’s maturity (SR 144), but SL’s chase exposed chinks—Hardik’s solitary over (7/1) was genius, yet pacers conceded 100 in the powerplay-middle phase.
Nissanka’s ton, his third in T20Is, cements his white-ball stardom; Perera’s vintage burst (SR 181) hints at a recall for the World Cup. For India, Arshdeep’s Super Over (2/2 in 1.1) rivals Bumrah’s legacy, while Varun’s stumping of Perera (review upheld) was tactical gold.
Broader lens: The Asia Cup’s UAE shift ensures safety, but dew’s asymmetry favors chases (80% success rate). Sri Lanka’s spin (ECON 9.25) neutralized India’s middle, yet death-over leaks cost dear. India’s rotation—resting Bumrah, Dube—pays dividends, signaling depth for 2026 T20WC.
As the teams shook hands—Shanaka grinning through the snub—this clash, though “dead,” breathed life into the tournament. India marches to the final unbeaten; Sri Lanka departs heads high. In cricket’s theater, such nights remind: scores tie, but stories endure.
