India will take on Sri Lanka in the Super 4 fixture of the 2025 Asia Cup, with the result having no bearing on the final. Sri Lanka is already out of contention, while India, unbeaten so far, will face Pakistan in the final.
The match offers both teams a chance to test their bench strength. For India, players like Rinku Singh and Jitesh Sharma are in line for selection in the playing XI. The team has also been experimenting with its batting order. In the previous match against Oman, Sanju Samson was promoted to No.3, while Suryakumar Yadav did not get a chance to bat despite India losing eight wickets.
India has been dominant throughout the tournament, ending the group stage as table toppers of Group A after convincing wins over Pakistan, UAE, and Oman. The Men in Blue then went on to defeat Pakistan and Bangladesh in the Super 4 stage.
Sri Lanka also finished as table toppers of Group B, with wins over Bangladesh, Afghanistan, and Hong Kong. However, they could not maintain the momentum in the next stage, suffering back-to-back defeats against both Bangladesh and Pakistan.
Historically, India holds the upper hand in head-to-head encounters, winning 21 out of 31 matches against the island nation.
The Dubai International Stadium is expected to favour spinners, with the pitch likely to pose a challenge for the team batting first.
Squads:
India: Abhishek Sharma, Shubman Gill, Shivam Dube, Suryakumar Yadav (c), Hardik Pandya, Tilak Varma, Axar Patel, Sanju Samson (w), Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Varun Chakaravarthy, Arshdeep Singh, Harshit Rana, Rinku Singh, Jitesh Sharma
Sri Lanka: Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis (w), Kusal Perera, Charith Asalanka (c), Kamindu Mendis, Dasun Shanaka, Wanindu Hasaranga, Chamika Karunaratne, Dushmantha Chameera, Maheesh Theekshana, Nuwan Thushara, Dunith Wellalage, Kamil Mishara, Nuwanidu Fernando, Binura Fernando, Janith Liyanage