WATCH: Varun Chakaravarthy dismisses dangerous Kusal Perera in IND vs SL Asia Cup 2025 Super Fours

Indian bowlers were frustrated with the dominant second wicket partnership for Sri Lanka, as the Lankans were seemed to be comfortably snatching the win in the dead rubber Super Fours match in the Asia Cup 2025. Finally, the Indian spinner Varun Chakaravarthy brought the crucial breakthrough for the Men in Blues by dismissing one of the dangerous batters, experienced Kusal Perera. 

Asia Cup 2025 (Super Fours), India vs Sri Lanka: Pathum Nissanka and Kusal Perera thrashed all Indian bowlers

Sri Lanka are chasing the 203-run target in the last game of the Super Fours in the Asia Cup 2025. Although India got an early wicket, as the opener Kusal Mendis was dismissed for a golden duck in the first over of the innings after Hardik Pandya took that wicket, another opener Pathum Nissanka and the no.3 batter Kusal Perera changed the atmosphere of the game with their powerful second-wicket partnership. These two Lankan batters spared none of the Indian bowlers.

In less than 12 overs of the second wicket partnership between Pathum Nissanka and Kusal Perera, they added 127 runs. It was the record T20I partnership for Sri Lanka for any wicket against India, while their previous record against India was the 109-run second wicket partnership between Kusal Perera and Upul Tharanga during the 2017 Indore T20I.

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Varun Chakaravarthy broke the dangerous partnership

While Nissanka and Perera were both charging against the Indian bowlers, Kuldeep Yadav suddenly put a break in the 12th over, as the required run rate pressured the set Lankan partnership. It ultimately worked for the Indian team, as Varun Chakaravarthy produced the key wicket for India by dismissing Perera. Under pressure Perera went to attack the Indian spinner and came down the pitch, while the Lankan batter completely missed that ball, and the Indian keeper Sanju Samson comfortably stumped out Perera. Perera left the ground after scoring 58 runs off 32 balls with eight fours and one six, while Nissanka's presence still put the Lankan team in the upper hand in the game.