India will be looking to end their 5-year-long wait for a major trophy when they take on Sri Lanka in the Asia Cup 2023 final in Colombo on Sunday, September 17. India’s last major title in senior men’s cricket came in 2018 in the Asia Cup when a Rohit Sharma-led side defeated Bangladesh in the final in Dubai.
India and Sri Lanka have dominated the Asia Cup over the years. India are the most successful team in the Asia Cup with 7 titles while Sri Lanka are just one behind. Quite a few had predicted a final meeting between arch-rivals India and Pakistan, considering the form with which Babar Azam’s men had headed into the final. However, Pakistan crashed out of the tournament, finishing last in the Super 4s after losses to India and Sri Lanka.
Will rain play spoilsport in Asia Cup 2023 final?
While India and Pakistan have never met in the Asia Cup final in the 39-year history of the tournament, India and Sri Lanka have met in the title match as many as 7 times. India have a slender lead in terms of the head-to-head, having won 4 of their 7 meetings in the final.
India and Sri Lanka have had a habit of making it to the finals of major tournaments. Sri Lanka, who won the World Cup in 1996, always found ways to punch above their weight and dominate the major tournaments. In fact, it was Dasun Shanaka’s side that won the Asia Cup Twenty20 in the UAE last year.
INDIA VS SRI LANKA IN MAJOR FINALS
11 matches: India won – 5, Sri Lanka won – 4, No Result 2
INDIA VS SRI LANKA IN ASIA CUP FINALS
7 matches – India won – 4, Sri Lanka won – 3
When the World Cup was held in the sub-continent the last time, India and Sri Lanka met in the final and MS Dhoni’s men scripted a historic victory at the Wankhede Stadium.
Cut to 2014, Sri Lanka avenged their defeat to India by winning the T20 World Cup final in Mirpur as Sri Lankan legends Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene signed off with farewell finishes from the format.
WHAT HAPPENED IN THEIR LAST ASIA CUP FINAL?
India and Sri Lanka last met in an Asia Cup final in 2010.
India defeated Sri Lanka by 81 runs in Dambulla. India rode on a sensational 66 from Dinesh Karthik at the top of the order to post 268 on the board.
In reply, Sri Lanka were bowled out for 187 in just 44.4 overs. Ashish Nehra was the pick of the Indian bowlers with 4 wickets while Zaheer Khan and Ravindra Jadeja picked up 2 wickets each.
Ravindra Jadeja, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli are the only 3 players from the 2010 final who will feature in 2023.
INDIA VS SRI LANKA – RESULTS IN MAJOR FINALS
Asia Cup
1988- India beat Sri Lanka by 6 wickets in Dhaka
1991 – India beat Sri Lanka by 7 wickets in Kolkata
1995 – India beat Sri Lanka by 49 runs in Sharjah
1997 – Sri Lanka beat India by 8 wickets in Colombo
2004 – Sri Lanka beat India by 25 runs in Colombo
2008 – Sri Lanka beat India by 100 runs in Karachi
2010 – India beat Sri Lanka by 81 runs in Dambulla
World Cups and Champions Trophy
2002 – No result in ICC Champions Trophy final
Rain affected the 2002 Champions Trophy final which was played on September 29, 2002. A fresh match was replayed on September 30 and it was also washed out due to rain in Colombo. Sri Lanka made 244 on September 29 and India were 14 for 0 when rain played spoilsport. On the following day, Sri Lanka made 222 for 7 and India were 38 for 1 when rain arrived and led to no result.
2011 – India beat Sri Lanka by 6 wickets in World Cup Final
2014 – Sri Lanka beat India by 6 wickets in T20 World Cup Final
