India Survives Nissanka's Century Storm: Super Over Thriller Secures Unbeaten Run in Asia Cup 2025
In a match that transformed a "dead rubber" into one of the most electrifying encounters of the Asia Cup 2025, India edged out a valiant Sri Lanka in a Super Over heart-stopper, maintaining their flawless record and booking a blockbuster final date with arch-rivals Pakistan on Sunday. What began as a routine Super Four clash erupted into chaos and brilliance, fueled by Pathum Nissanka's maiden T20I century—a blistering 107 off 58 balls that nearly single-handedly dragged the Lankans to victory. But in the end, it was Arshdeep Singh's ice-cold yorkers in the Super Over that sealed the deal, conceding just two runs while claiming two wickets, allowing skipper Suryakumar Yadav to knock off the target with a single boundary on the first ball.
The Dubai night sky crackled with tension from the outset. Sri Lanka captain Charith Asalanka, opting to bowl first after winning the toss, would have rued that decision almost immediately as India's openers lit up the scoreboard. Abhishek Sharma, the tournament's breakout star, unleashed a savage 61 off just 31 balls—replete with audacious ramps, scoops, and sixes that sailed into the desert beyond the boundary. His partnership with Shubman Gill set the tone, but Gill's early departure for 4 exposed vulnerabilities in the middle order that have dogged India throughout the Super Fours.
Tilak Varma steadied the ship with a gritty 42, while Hardik Pandya's late flourish—18 off 9 balls—pushed India past the 200-mark for the first time in this Asia Cup, finishing at 202/5. It was a total that screamed dominance, but Sri Lanka's response was nothing short of a resurrection. Nissanka, opening in place of the injured Kusal Mendis, arrived like a force of nature. Forging a 127-run second-wicket stand with Kusal Perera (58 off 32), he dismantled India's attack with seven fours and six sixes, his fifty coming off 28 balls and the hundred—a career-defining knock—off just 52 deliveries.
For 18 overs, it felt like Sri Lanka's night. The islanders raced to 180/3, with Nissanka and Perera turning the chase into a clinic. But cricket, as ever, reserves its cruellest twists for the death. Kuldeep Yadav snared Perera, and Varun Chakaravarthy followed with a cunning googly to dismiss Asalanka for 22. Enter Dasun Shanaka, the finisher with ice in his veins. Needing 12 off the final over from Harshit Rana, Sri Lanka stumbled: Nissanka holed out on the first ball for his valiant ton, but Shanaka's calculated strikes—two fours and a six—racked up 11 runs. A frantic scramble on the last ball left scores level at 202 each, forcing the first Super Over in Asia Cup history.
What followed was a microcosm of the match's madness. Arshdeep, handed the ball by Yadav, produced two unerring yorkers to trap Perera and Shanaka lbw in consecutive deliveries, Sri Lanka limping to 2/2. Yadav and Gill then strolled out, and on the first ball—a full toss from Maheesh Theekshana—Yadav punched through cover for three, ending the drama before it truly began. India won by 2 wickets in the Super Over, their sixth straight T20I victory in tied contests.
Yet, amid the jubilation, shadows lingered. Dropped catches plagued India—three in the deep alone—and Yadav later admitted in the post-match huddle, "We got away with it tonight. Nissanka deserved a win; that was poetry in motion." Sri Lanka's camp seethed over a controversial non-review in the Super Over—Shanaka's lbw looked plumb but was deemed too high—adding fuel to whispers of umpiring inconsistencies in the tournament. Asalanka, gracious in defeat, called it "a performance to build on," but the sting of elimination from Super Fours contention was palpable.
This wasn't just a win; it was a wake-up call. India's middle order—Samson (19) and Yadav (12) combined for a measly 31—remains a powder keg, and their fielding, sloppy at times, could prove fatal against Pakistan's Babar Azam and Shaheen Afridi. For Sri Lanka, Nissanka's emergence as a global T20 force offers hope, a silver lining in a campaign derailed by close losses.
As the floodlights dimmed over Dubai, one truth stood clear: Asia Cup 2025 has saved its best for last. Sunday's final promises fireworks—India's unbeaten streak versus Pakistan's redemption quest. Buckle up, subcontinent; the mother of all battles awaits.
Super Over Scorecard Sri Lanka: 2/2 in 3.1 overs (Arshdeep Singh 1-0-2-2) India: 3/0 in 0.1 overs (Suryakumar Yadav 3*, Maheesh Theekshana 0-1-3-0) India wins by 2 wickets
Match Scorecard Snapshot
| Team | Score | Key Performers |
|---|---|---|
| India | 202/5 (20 overs) | Abhishek Sharma 61 (31), Tilak Varma 42 (28), Hardik Pandya 18* (9) |
| Sri Lanka | 202/5 (20 overs) | Pathum Nissanka 107 (58), Kusal Perera 58 (32), Dasun Shanaka 22* (8) |
Player of the Match: Pathum Nissanka (Sri Lanka)