'Pure gold': Arshdeep's brilliance trumps Nissanka's superb ton as India pip SL to extend unbeaten Asia Cup run

Arshdeep Singh underlined his status as a premier T20 bowler with his exceptional death-bowling while opener Abhishek Sharma continued his fine run with a third consecutive half-century as India defeated Sri Lanka in a match that went into the Super Over on Friday.

The victory thus extends their unbeaten run in the ongoing tournament heading into Sunday’s final against Pakistan at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, the same venue where the Men in Blue won the high-scoring thriller on Friday.

Nissanka’s valiant ton in vain

Sri Lankan opener Pathum Nissanka, however, was left heartbroken in the end after his brilliant 107 off 58 deliveries – his maiden T20I century and only the third ton in the history of the Men’s T20 Asia Cup – went in vain.

Nissanka had helped the Lankans, who had won the previous edition of the T20 Asia Cup three years ago, recover from a jittery start by adding 127 for the second wicket with Kusal Perera (58 off 32). And despite Perera’s dismissal, the Sri Lankans found themselves in pole position to collect a consolation victory, needing just 46 more to win off 30 balls with 8 wickets in hand and a well-set Nissanka at the crease.

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The second-ever 💯 in a T20I #AsiaCup - take a bow, Pathum Nissanka 🔥🙌

Watch #DPWORLDASIACUP2025 - LIVE on #SonyLIV & #SonySportsNetwork TV Channels 📺#AsiaCup2025 #INDvSL pic.twitter.com/qyxnWinGVR

— Sony LIV (@SonyLIV) September 26, 2025

The Suryakumar Yadav-led side, however, kept their calm and pulled things back in style in the last five overs. Kuldeep Yadav and Arshdeep kept things tight in the 16th and 19th overs to build pressure on the Lankans while Harshit Rana made up for three expensive overs by getting rid of Nissanka at the start of the final over.

Team India be like, 2️⃣ tera 2️⃣ mera 😅

Watch #DPWORLDASIACUP2025 - LIVE on #SonyLIV & #SonySportsNetwork TV Channels 📺#AsiaCup #INDvSL pic.twitter.com/fQluP9mg6M

— Sony LIV (@SonyLIV) September 26, 2025

The topsy-turvy battle between all-rounder Dasun Shanaka and Rana in the final over, however, resulted in both teams finishing level on 202/5. Arshdeep then stood tall in the Super Over, dismissing Perera and Shanaka in a space of five deliveries while conceding just two runs to leave just three runs for India to collect their sixth consecutive victory.

Surya needed just one ball to clinch a thrilling victory for the Men in Blue with a punch in front of cover off Wanindu Hasaranga, getting enough time to run a third.

India become first team to breach 200

Earlier, India had become the first team to breach the 200-mark in the ongoing tournament, with Abhishek continuing his red-hot run in the ongoing tournament by smashing a 22-ball half-century. The Men in Blue were off to a slow start once again with Shubman Gill (4) getting dismissed in the second second over of the innings after Sri Lanka invited them to bat.

Abhishek’s fireworks, however, ensured the Men in Blue raced to 71/1 at the end of the powerplay. And unlike the match against the Bangladesh, India ensured they did not slow down in the middle overs, thanks to Tilak’s unbeaten 49 off 34 balls and wicketkeeper-batter Sanju Samson’s quickfire 39 off 23, which contained a four and three sixes and was exactly the kind of contribution that the team management had expected from him after his relocation to the middle order.

How social media reacted to high-scoring thriller in Dubai

Here’s how former cricketers and other experts as well as fans reacted to the final Super 4s match of the tournament, keeping Arshdeep’s death-bowling and Nissanka’s century in focus:

What an over by Arshdeep singh. His heart and mind works in sync.

— Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan) September 26, 2025

What a comeback by Arshdeep Singh. He bowled a brilliant 19th over and the best super over I have seen in T20I cricket.

He deserves a lot of praise for coming back so strongly in the game. Form is temporary, class is permanent.

#INDvsSL pic.twitter.com/3Zo9HpU932

— Madhav Sharma (@HashTagCricket) September 26, 2025

Now you see why Arshdeep Singh is pure gold in T20 cricket, he can flip a game in a heartbeat. That 19th over and then the super over….brilliant bowling. 👏 pic.twitter.com/pemxxt795Z

— Vipin Tiwari (@Vipintiwari952) September 26, 2025

Finally a quality pitch saw some quality batting in a run chase. Pathum Nissanka is a star! What a game!
Well done India! 👏👏👏

— Sanjay Manjrekar (@sanjaymanjrekar) September 26, 2025

Wow🔥
What an innings, what a player!
An absolute gem💎 #PathumNissanka

— Lasith Malinga (@malinga_ninety9) September 26, 2025

That Nissanka hundred was a special special effort. Didn’t deserve to come in a losing cause and at least did not in regulation time. Funny that a dead rubber goes into a super over ! #AsiaCup

— Jatin Sapru (@jatinsapru) September 26, 2025

Watching Pathum Nissanka bat feels like Sri Lanka’s past & present colliding, with Aravinda’s audacity stitched into Mahela’s silk. He bats like the island itself; serene yet unyielding, carrying the cricketing soul in strokes that murmur softly yet resound like eternal chants. pic.twitter.com/bci5ICLmFa

— Abhishek AB (@ABsay_ek) September 26, 2025

Non striker player and umpire in every match of Asia Cup when Abhishek Sharma is batting #INDvSL pic.twitter.com/9vE8L5bjHX

— Sajcasm (@sajcasm_) September 26, 2025

A meaningless match turned into the best match of Asia Cup 2025. 🔥 pic.twitter.com/l11HAMDy6k

— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) September 26, 2025

The ‘dead rubber’ has given us the most alive game of the tournament! #AsiaCup2025 #INDvsSL

— Gaurav Kapur (@gauravkapur) September 26, 2025