Asia Cup 2025: Who said what? after IND vs SL Super 4 match 6

India kept their unbeaten streak alive in the Super Four stage of the Asia Cup 2025 with an exciting Super Over triumph against Sri Lanka in Dubai. The game acted as a dead rubber before the final but turned out to be a thriller after Pathum Nissanka’s stunning century nearly spoiled India’s streak. 

India batted first and made 202/5 which is their highest total of the tournament thus far. Abhishek Sharma gave India a blazing start, scoring 61 runs off 31 balls and hitting seven fours and two sixes. Tilak Varma anchored the middle overs with an unbeaten 49 off 34, while Sanju Samson contributed 24. Sri Lanka picked wickets at regular intervals but could not stop India from crossing the 200-run mark comfortably.

Sri Lanka’s chase was led by Nissanka, who scored his maiden T20I century, and Kusal Perera, who added 54 off 27. Together, they stitched a record 127-run partnership and kept Sri Lanka in the game. However, Kuldeep Yadav and Varun Chakravarthy slowed the scoring in the middle overs, triggering a mini-collapse. The game went down to the final ball, with three runs needed. Nissanka was dismissed first ball of the last over, and Dasun Shanaka managed only two, tying the match at 202. In the Super Over, Arshdeep Singh bowled superbly, dismissing both Perera and Shanaka for just two runs, allowing India to win off the first ball through Suryakumar Yadav’s three-run strike.

IND vs SL: Who Said What?

Suryakumar Yadav (India Captain):

"It felt like a final (laughs). The boys showed a lot of character after the first half in the second innings. Told them to play this like a semi-final. Get everyone close in, have good energy and then let's see what happens. Good to be on the winning side. To have that start, and then someone like Sanju and Tilak batting that way and taking the tempo ahead from where Abhishek left (cannot say from where I left it)…Sanju not opening, going down the order, taking responsibility and Tilak taking confidence and responsibility, that was good to see. Arshdeep has been in that situation a lot of time and he has delivered for us. I only told him to back your own plans and not to think about anything. We are already in the finals, but have your own plans and execute it. I have seen him execute his plans, do really well for India and his IPL franchise. His confidence says it all and no one but Arshdeep for that Super Over. Let's have a good recovery tonight. Let us not think about that (the final) right now. Few boys had a lot of cramps today. Have a good recovery day tomorrow and we will turn up the same way we did today. What I wanted from the boys, just trying to execute their plans, be clear and not to fear, that was really important and I am sure everyone got what they wanted. Happy to be in the final."

Charith Asalanka (Sri Lanka Captain):

"It was a fabulous game and we were in the game until Varun and Kuldeep bowled those middle overs. It was unbelievable batting (from Nissanka), they have some extremely good bowlers and it was really good to see him bat with that attacking approach. Lots of positives from the Asia Cup. We have been playing good cricket and unfortunately we couldn't win in the last 2 games. As a captain, there are a lot of positives to take."