Asia Cup 2025: India Overcome Sri Lanka Test to Stay Unbeaten in Dubai

The Asia Cup 2025 Super 4 clash between India and Sri Lanka at the Dubai International Stadium may not have been a must-win fixture, but it still had all the makings of a high-voltage contest. India walked into the game already assured of a place in the final, while Sri Lanka, eliminated from the title race, played for pride. What followed was an engaging battle that gave both sides reasons to reflect on their strengths and shortcomings.

Toss and First Impressions

Sri Lankan skipper Charith Asalanka opted to bowl first after winning the toss, banking on the pitch to provide some early movement under lights. India, captained by Rohit Sharma, fielded a near full-strength side but made slight tweaks in their batting order to test combinations ahead of the all-important final.

The surface looked on the slower side, with cracks expected to assist spinners as the evening progressed. Both teams went in with balanced line-ups — India blending youth with experience, Sri Lanka sticking with their most trusted players despite their exit from contention.

India’s Batting: Bright Start, Stumbles in the Middle

India’s innings began in style with Abhishek Sharma showing intent from the very first over. His quick boundaries set the tempo, while captain Rohit Sharma provided stability at the other end. The pair looked comfortable against Sri Lanka’s pacers until Asitha Fernando struck to remove the Indian skipper just as he was settling in.

Suryakumar Yadav followed soon after, falling to an ambitious shot that didn’t quite connect. India suddenly found themselves under pressure at 68/2.

The middle overs saw Tilak Varma and Sanju Samson steady the ship. Their calculated partnership — full of smart singles and controlled aggression — gave India a platform. Varma’s ability to rotate strike kept the scoreboard ticking, while Samson capitalized on loose deliveries.

However, the much-anticipated flourish in the death overs never arrived. Hardik Pandya, promoted up the order, mistimed a pull and departed cheaply. Ravindra Jadeja too couldn’t find rhythm. Thanks to a composed cameo from Samson, India closed their innings at 172/5 in 20 overs — a total competitive but far from daunting on Dubai’s outfield.

Sri Lanka’s Bowling: Glimpses of Brilliance, But No Finish

Sri Lanka’s bowlers had moments where they rattled India’s batters, yet lacked consistency. Dushmantha Chameera’s fiery spell accounted for Pandya, and the spinners kept things tight in patches. But every time they built pressure, an Indian batter managed to release it with boundaries.

Wanindu Hasaranga bowled with discipline, giving away little and forcing miscues. Still, the absence of collective control meant Sri Lanka conceded over 170 when they had the chance to restrict India to around 150.

Sri Lanka’s Chase: Collapse Under Pressure

Chasing 173, Sri Lanka started cautiously. Pathum Nissanka tried to anchor the innings, but early wickets from India’s pace attack tilted the momentum. Jasprit Bumrah’s precision and Arshdeep Singh’s clever variations put the chase on the back foot.

Charith Asalanka offered resistance with a gritty knock, but partners kept departing around him. The Indian spinners tightened their grip in the middle overs, exploiting the pitch’s slowness perfectly. Kuldeep Yadav struck crucial blows, while Jadeja applied chokehold pressure with economical bowling.

Sri Lanka’s hopes faded after Asalanka’s dismissal, leaving too much for the lower order to chase. Eventually, they were bundled out for 142 in 19 overs, handing India a comfortable 30-run victory.

Key Takeaways for India

• Batting Balance Needs Work: The top order continues to shine, but middle-order collapses remain a concern ahead of the final.
• Bowling Depth Impressive: Pace spearheads Bumrah and Arshdeep complemented the spinners beautifully, highlighting India’s adaptability.
• Composure in Crunch Moments: Even with a modest total, India never looked panicked, a sign of growing maturity within the squad.

Sri Lanka’s Reflections

While the loss ended their Super 4 run without a win, Sri Lanka had encouraging takeaways. Chameera’s pace and Hasaranga’s control were positives, but their batting fragility under pressure was exposed once again. The lack of partnerships in the top order ultimately cost them, an area they’ll need to address before future tournaments.

The Road Ahead

India’s unbeaten streak in the Asia Cup continues, adding confidence ahead of the final showdown. The team will aim to iron out batting inconsistencies but will take heart in their strong bowling displays and ability to defend totals on testing pitches.

For Sri Lanka, it was a match of pride, but the defeat underlined gaps in both temperament and execution. They exit the tournament with lessons to learn and young talent to nurture.