India’s T20I skipper Suryakumar Yadav revealed that his team approached the final Super 4 clash against Sri Lanka in the Asia Cup 2025 with the mindset of treating it as a semifinal. Despite already sealing a place in the final, SKY admitted the thrilling contest at the Dubai International Stadium felt very much like the summit clash itself.

Defending 202, India found themselves under immense pressure as Sri Lanka fought back through Pathum Nissanka’s century. With 12 required in the final over, Harshit Rana was handed the responsibility. Dasun Shanaka’s late push took the equation to three off the last ball, but the Sri Lankan skipper managed only two, pushing the game into a dramatic Super Over.

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That’s where Arshdeep Singh turned the tide. The left-arm pacer first bowled a sensational 19th over in regulation play, and then in the Super Over, removed both Shanaka and Kusal Perera while conceding just two runs. Suryakumar himself finished the job in style, smashing the winning runs off the very first ball.

“It honestly felt like a final (laughs). The boys showed great character after the first half. I told them to treat this like a semifinal—stay sharp, stay energetic, and trust the process,” Suryakumar Yadav said at the post-match presentation.

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He praised Arshdeep Singh’s composure under pressure, adding: “He has been in this situation many times. I told him to trust his plans and execute them without second thoughts.”

With the bat, Abhishek Sharma (61), Sanju Samson (39), and Tilak Varma (49)* provided India with a strong total of 202/5. Suryakumar lauded their efforts, particularly Tilak and Samson’s adaptability in the middle order, highlighting the team’s growing depth ahead of the blockbuster final against Pakistan.