🏏T20 Asia Cup 2025: IND vs SL, Match 18, A1 vs B1 - Super 4 @Dubai🏏

🏏T20 Asia Cup 2025: India vs Sri Lanka, Match 18, A1 vs B1 - Super 4 @Dubai on 26/09/2025 at 8PM IST🏏

All eyes on India's bench in Super Fours dead rubber

India's batting order will be of interest given all the shuffling they have done so far

Who will bat where for India?

The last time India and Sri Lanka faced each other in international cricket, Sri Lanka defended their home turf like wounded lions to blank India out in an animated ODI series. Now, though, they come up against each other in an Asia Cup dead rubber with Sri Lanka already knocked out and an unbeaten India already in the final.

However, with India seemingly playing roulette with their batting order, there is always anticipation to see what the box of chocolates throws up next. In India's previous dead rubber, against Oman, Sanju Samson was promoted to No. 3 and Suryakumar Yadav didn't bat at all even though India lost eight wickets. In their last match, Sanju Samson didn't get to bat even though India lost six wickets.

There must be some method to what Suryakumar and coach Gautam Gambhir are doing, but the pundits on the outside haven't been able to figure it out. What happens next is anyone's guess.

Team news:

India:

Injuries/unavailability: No reported injuries in the Indian camp.

Tactics & matchups: India are all set to rest Jasprit Bumrah for this match. That could mean some match time for Harshit Rana, who would also bring some batting depth with him. There could be some match time for Jitesh Sharma, who has routinely looked among the best while batting in the nets. Playing Wanindu Hasaranga in the middle overs will be key, the legspinner having not conceded anything over 27 runs in this Asia Cup.

Probable XI: Abhishek Sharma, Shubman Gill, Suryakumar Yadav (c), Tilak Varma, Sanju Samson (wk)/Jitesh Sharma (wk), Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav/Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah/Harshit Rana, Varun Chakaravarthy

Sri Lanka:

Injuries/unavailability: All players are available for this match.

Tactics & matchups: India's spin attack, which has gone at under 6 runs/over in this Asia Cup, is going to be a challenge for Sri Lanka's middle order, which hasn't been in great form anyway. They brought in Chamika Karunaratne and Maheesh Theekshana in their last match but it didn't quite work out, so expect them to go back to the previous combination and play another batter.

Probable XI: Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis (wk), Kamil Mishara, Kusal Perera, Charith Asalanka (c), Dasun Shanaka, Kamindu Mendis, Wanindu Hasaranga, Dunith Wellalage, Dushmantha Chameera, Nuwan Thushara

In the spotlight: Abhishek Sharma and Wanindu Hasaranga

One change India will not want to make is rest Abhishek Sharma and halt the almighty momentum he has on his side. He has 248 runs in this Asia Cup at better than two a ball. He has twice threatened to get to a century. You don't ask a batter on such a roll to rest.

Wanindu Hasaranga has gone for less than a run a ball through this tournament, and will relish bowling against a top line-up on a slow Dubai track. Especially outside the powerplay.

Pitch and conditions

As the tournament progresses, scoring quickly keeps getting harder. The powerplay, and what the set batters can do outside of it, remains critical.

Stats and trivia

• India and Sri Lanka have have faced each other in Dubai once previously. It was in the Super Fours stage of the Asia Cup back in 2022. Sri Lanka won the toss, inserted India, and won by six wickets.
• Hardik Pandya needs three wickets to become the second India bowler after Arshdeep Singh to 100 in T20Is.

Did you know?

- Dasun Shanaka now has the most ducks (14) by any player in T20Is.

- Wanindu Hasaranga has the most wickets [38] in overs 7-15 in T20Is since 2024.

- Abhishek Sharma has hit 12 sixes in this Asia Cup. All of Sri Lanka's batters have combined to hit as many.

Who said what:

"We have discussed it, but everything said and done, our guys have been playing spin regularly. They know how to handle the spinners irrespective of the conditions. Having said that, they have some good world-class bowlers in their line-up. If our guys have a positive mindset, we can overcome that" - Thilina Kandamby, Sri Lanka batting coach, on playing India's spinners

"If we bowl 12-14 good overs, we will win on most occasions" - Suryakumar Yadav, India captain, after beating Bangladesh in their last match

IND vs SL Head-to-Head Record

Matches Played 32

IND Won 21

SL Won 09

No Result 01

Tied 01

First-ever Fixture February 10, 2009 (IND Won)

Most-recent Fixture July 30, 2024 (IND Won)

IND vs SL Probable Top Performers

Probable Best Batter: Abhishek Sharma

Abhishek Sharma has been his team's best batter so far. In the five games that he has played, Sharma has managed to score 248 runs at an average of 49.60 and a strike rate of 206.66. The southpaw will once again be hoping to have another impressive knock in the next game before the Indian team heads to the summit clash.

Probable Best Bowler: Kuldeep Yadav

Indian spinner Kuldeep Yadav could be the bowler to watch out for in the match against Sri Lanka. In five innings, Yadav has bagged 12 wickets at an average of 8.08 and has an economy rate of 5.65. The chinaman will be looking to carry the same momentum in the upcoming game.