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Dubai, September 27, 2025 – Under the glittering lights of the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, India and Sri Lanka produced a contest that will be remembered long after the Asia Cup concludes. What began as a “dead rubber” in the Super Four stage quickly transformed into one of the tournament’s most dramatic spectacles, with India clinching victory in a tense Super Over finish marred by controversy.
A Clash That Refused to Die Quietly
Suryakumar Yadav’s India walked into the game unbeaten, and despite already sealing a place in Sunday’s high-stakes clash against Pakistan, the team fielded a full-strength XI. Sri Lanka, driven by pride and Pathum Nissanka’s brilliance, turned the match into a blockbuster.
Batting first, India posted a formidable 202/5, built around Tilak Varma’s mature 49* and Sanju Samson’s brisk 39. Axar Patel’s late flourish ensured the team crossed the psychological 200-run barrier.
Yet, if India believed the job was done, Nissanka had other ideas. The Sri Lankan opener struck a magnificent 107 off 58 balls, blending elegance with audacity. His 127-run partnership with Kusal Perera (58 off 32) left India scrambling for answers. With 12 needed off the final over, Harshit Rana kept his nerve, conceding 11 to drag the match into the Asia Cup’s first-ever Super Over.
Super Over Drama and the Shanaka Controversy
Arshdeep Singh was entrusted with the ball. His yorkers left Sri Lanka gasping, removing both Kusal Perera and Dasun Shanaka. But it was the fourth delivery that sparked uproar.
Shanaka, attempting a desperate single, appeared run out by Sanju Samson’s direct hit. However, the on-field umpire had simultaneously adjudged him caught behind—a decision later overturned by DRS. By rule, the moment the caught-behind was signaled, the ball became dead, rendering the run-out invalid.
Indian players protested, Suryakumar Yadav engaged in a heated discussion, and replays only deepened the sense of injustice. Shanaka survived, but it proved inconsequential as he holed out on the very next ball. Sri Lanka limped to 2/2.
Suryakumar and Shubman Gill then needed just three runs. The captain calmly drove Wanindu Hasaranga’s first delivery through the covers, running three and sealing India’s sixth straight win.
What This Win Means
For India, the result was about momentum and mentality. Emerging unscathed from such a pressure cooker will serve them well ahead of Sunday’s blockbuster against Pakistan. Arshdeep Singh’s composure under the spotlight and Varma’s consistency with the bat continue to be standout positives.
Sri Lanka, though eliminated, will take solace in their fight. Nissanka’s century ranks among the finest knocks in Asia Cup history, reminiscent of Sanath Jayasuriya’s fearless approach from another era. Yet, the controversy surrounding Shanaka’s “not out” will likely dominate discussions, reigniting debates about umpiring protocols in the Super Over format.
Asia Cup’s Super Over Legacy
The Asia Cup has witnessed its share of nail-biters, but this clash added a new chapter. Fans were treated to the rare sight of a tied 20-over contest between two traditional rivals, with emotions spilling from the pitch into the stands. Social media exploded with memes, outrage, and admiration in equal measure—proof that even so-called dead rubbers carry the heartbeat of the sport.
As the dust settles, the focus shifts to Sunday: India vs Pakistan, a match already being billed as the “Final before the Final.”
For now, though, cricket fans will remember September 26, 2025, as the night when India and Sri Lanka turned a formality into folklore.
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