Dubai/Patiala, 27 September (Sports Desk)
India won by 3 runs in the Super Over (Match tied in regulation play) In a pulsating dead-rubber encounter at Dubai International Cricket Stadium on September 26, 2025, India edged out Sri Lanka in the first-ever Super Over of the Asia Cup after both sides posted identical 202/5 totals. Pathum Nissanka’s maiden T20I century (107 off 58 balls) nearly scripted a famous chase for the hosts, but Arshdeep Singh’s lethal Super Over (2/2 in 0.5 overs) restricted Sri Lanka to 2/2. Sanju Samson then sealed the thriller with a six off the first ball of India’s reply off Wanindu Hasaranga. Yashasvi Jaiswal did not feature in the playing XI—India rested him, opting for a middle-order focus with Sanju Samson as wicketkeeper-batsman. This victory extended India’s unbeaten run to six matches, propelling them into the final against Pakistan on September 28 unbeaten. Nissanka was named Player of the Match for his explosive knock.
The high-scoring affair on a flat pitch saw 404 runs in 40 overs, with 32 boundaries and 14 sixes. India’s spinners applied crucial brakes in the middle, while Sri Lanka’s part-timers struck timely blows.
Toss and Playing XIs
- Toss: Sri Lanka won and elected to field first (to exploit potential dew in the chase under lights).
- India XI: Abhishek Sharma, Shubman Gill (c), Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, Sanju Samson (wk), Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Harshit Rana, Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakaravarthy, Arshdeep Singh.
- Sri Lanka XI: Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis (wk), Kusal Perera, Charith Asalanka (c), Kamindu Mendis, Dasun Shanaka, Pasindu Sooriyabandara, Dushmantha Chameera, Maheesh Theekshana, Wanindu Hasaranga, Asitha Fernando.
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India Innings: 202/5 (20 overs)
India exploded to 71/1 in the powerplay, led by Abhishek Sharma’s aggressive 61 off 31 (7×4, 3×6). A middle-order wobble followed, but Tilak Varma’s composed 49* (34 balls) and Axar Patel’s 21* (15) steered them to a tournament-high total, with 41 runs plundered in the last five overs.
| Batsman | Dismissal | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s | SR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Abhishek Sharma | c Sooriyabandara b Asalanka | 61 | 31 | 7 | 3 | 196.77 |
| Shubman Gill (c) | c & b Theekshana | 4 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 133.33 |
| Suryakumar Yadav | lbw b Hasaranga | 12 | 13 | 1 | 0 | 92.31 |
| Tilak Varma | not out | 49* | 34 | 4 | 1 | 144.12 |
| Sanju Samson (wk) | c Asalanka b Shanaka | 39 | 23 | 3 | 2 | 169.57 |
| Hardik Pandya | c & b Chameera | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 66.67 |
| Axar Patel | not out | 21* | 15 | 1 | 1 | 140.00 |
| Extras | (lb 5, nb 2, w 7) | 14 | – | – | – | – |
| Total | 202/5 (20 overs) | 16 | 7 | 10.10 RPO |
- Fall of Wickets: 1-15 (Gill, 1.3 ov), 2-74 (Yadav, 6.5 ov), 3-92 (Sharma, 8.4 ov), 4-158 (Samson, 15.3 ov), 5-162 (Pandya, 16.1 ov).
- Key Highlights: 50 in 4.3 overs; 100 in 9.6 overs; 150 in 14.6 overs. Abhishek’s 50 off 22 balls (fastest in tournament).
- Sri Lanka Bowling:
Bowler Ov M R W Econ Asitha Fernando 4 0 43 0 10.75 Maheesh Theekshana 4 0 36 1 9.00 Dushmantha Chameera 4 0 40 1 10.00 Wanindu Hasaranga 4 0 37 1 9.25 Charith Asalanka 2 0 23 1 11.50 Dasun Shanaka 2 0 18 1 9.00
Sri Lanka Innings: 202/5 (20 overs, target 203)
Nissanka’s masterful 107 (7×4, 6×6) and a 127-run stand with Kusal Perera (58 off 32) had Sri Lanka cruising at 134/2 after 12 overs. However, India’s spinners triggered a collapse—losing three wickets for 29 runs in the middle overs—leaving 12 needed off the last over. Shanaka’s unbeaten 22 (11 balls) forced a tie with a single off the final delivery.
| Batsman | Dismissal | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s | SR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pathum Nissanka | c Chakaravarthy b Harshit Rana | 107 | 58 | 7 | 6 | 184.48 |
| Kusal Mendis (wk) | c Gill b Pandya | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Kusal Perera | st Samson b Chakaravarthy | 58 | 32 | 6 | 2 | 181.25 |
| Charith Asalanka (c) | c Gill b Kuldeep Yadav | 5 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 55.56 |
| Kamindu Mendis | c Patel b Arshdeep Singh | 3 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 42.86 |
| Dasun Shanaka | not out | 22* | 11 | 1 | 1 | 200.00 |
| Pasindu Sooriyabandara | not out | 2* | 2 | 0 | 0 | 100.00 |
| Extras | (b 1, w 4) | 5 | – | – | – | – |
| Total | 202/5 (20 overs) | 14 | 9 | 10.10 RPO |
- Fall of Wickets: 1-7 (Mendis, 0.4 ov), 2-134 (Perera, 12.2 ov), 3-157 (Asalanka, 15.1 ov), 4-163 (Kamindu, 16.4 ov), 5-191 (Nissanka, 19.1 ov).
- Key Highlights: Powerplay 72/1; 100 in 8.5 overs; 150 in 14.1 overs. Nissanka’s 100 off 52 balls; Perera’s 50 off 25 balls.
- India Bowling:
Bowler Ov M R W Econ Arshdeep Singh 4 0 46 1 11.50 Harshit Rana 4 0 54 1 13.50 Kuldeep Yadav 4 0 31 1 7.75 Varun Chakaravarthy 4 0 31 1 7.75 Axar Patel 2 0 24 0 12.00 Hardik Pandya 2 0 13 1 6.50
Super Over
- Sri Lanka (Batting first, target for India: 3): 2/2 in 0.5 overs (Bowler: Arshdeep Singh). Kusal Perera c ? b Arshdeep 0 (1b); Dasun Shanaka c ? b Arshdeep 0 (3b); Kamindu Mendis 1* (1b); Extras: 1w. (Fall: 1-0 Perera 0.1 ov; 2-2 Shanaka 0.5 ov). Arshdeep’s yorkers and cutters were unplayable.
- India (Chasing 3): 3/0 in 0.1 overs (Bowler: Wanindu Hasaranga). Sanju Samson 3* (1b, six); Rinku Singh (sub) 0* (0b). Samson dispatched the first ball for maximum to win instantly. (Note: Rinku Singh entered as a substitute fielder/non-striker in the Super Over.)
Match Context and Milestones
- Series Impact: India (3-0 in Super Fours) top the table unbeaten; Sri Lanka (1-2) eliminated but salvaged pride. This sets up an India-Pakistan final.
- Milestones: Nissanka’s 107 is the highest individual score in a tied T20I and third-highest in Asia Cup T20Is; the 202 tie is the highest in Asia Cup history (fourth in T20Is overall). India’s Super Over record: 6-0. Abhishek’s 61 included the tournament’s fastest 50 (22 balls).
