India Edge Past Sri Lanka in a Thriller, but Exposed Cracks Before the Final

 

On paper, it was supposed to be a dead rubber. But under the dazzling lights of the Dubai International Stadium, India were forced to dig deep against Sri Lanka, escaping with a dramatic victory in the Super Over. The win may not have been an upset, but it certainly felt like a stern “wake-up call” for the Men in Blue ahead of their Asia Cup final against Pakistan.

India’s batting had a familiar hero. Abhishek Sharma’s blazing blade once again set the tone. While Shubman Gill fell for just 4 and captain Suryakumar Yadav (12) disappointed yet again—something that will surely trouble the team’s think tank—Abhishek remained unflinching. With eight crisp boundaries and two towering sixes, he powered his way to a fiery 61 off 31 balls at a strike rate close to 200. By the time he departed, India were already near the 100-run mark.

The momentum was carried forward by Sanju Samson and Tilak Varma, though the team’s constant experimentation with their batting order continues to raise eyebrows. Samson chipped in with 39, Tilak remained unbeaten on 49, while Axar Patel added a handy 21. Despite losing wickets at intervals—thanks in part to some brilliant Sri Lankan catching—India finished with 202 for 5, the highest total of this Asia Cup so far.

Yet, what seemed like an impregnable total quickly turned into a nervy defense. Jasprit Bumrah was rested, Shivam Dube sat out, and the responsibility fell on the relatively inexperienced Harshit Rana and Arshdeep Singh. Rana, seen as coach Gautam Gambhir’s protégé, looked alarmingly raw. His wayward line and predictable short balls were ruthlessly punished by Pathum Nissanka and Kusal Perera. Runs flowed freely, exposing India’s bowling depth.

Arshdeep, kept out of rhythm by inconsistent usage, couldn’t impose himself either. The absence of Bumrah loomed large as Sri Lanka steadily closed in. It was only the guile of Varun Chakravarthy and the class of Kuldeep Yadav that pulled India back. Chakravarthy dismissed Perera (58) with spin wizardry, while Kuldeep applied pressure at crucial junctures. But Nissanka was unstoppable. With fearless strokeplay, he smashed his way to a scintillating century (107), almost single-handedly dragging his team towards an improbable victory.

The drama peaked in the final over. Sri Lanka needed 12 runs, and ironically it was Harshit Rana—expensive all night—who was thrown the ball. Incredibly, he struck with his very first delivery, removing the dangerous Nissanka. Sri Lanka faltered, and the game spilled into a nerve-shredding Super Over.

Controversy briefly erupted when Dasun Shanaka was first given out caught, then reprieved, as replays revealed no contact with the bat. However, since the ball was ruled “dead,” his subsequent run-out did not count either. Still, Sri Lanka managed only two runs in the Super Over, with Arshdeep Singh bagging two wickets. India wasted no time in sealing the result, knocking off the runs from the very first ball.

Victory, yes. Relief, certainly. But reassurance? Far from it. This match exposed India’s vulnerabilities—sloppy fielding, misfired bowling plans, and an over-reliance on individual brilliance. With Pakistan waiting in the final, the challenge is not just about momentum but about discipline. For Suryakumar Yadav’s men, this narrow escape was less a celebration and more a timely reminder: complacency has no place in championship matches.