India vs Sri Lanka Asia Cup Super 4 Highlights: Four-star Kuldeep snaps SL's winning streak as IND enter final

It's safe to say that we've just witnessed the most thrilling game of this year's Asia Cup. While it may not have gone down to the wire, it remained riveting until the very end. India's performance at the start, sprinting to 80/0 after 10 overs, hinted at the possibility of another big total. However, the 20-year-old Dunith Wellalage had different plans. He dismissed India's top three batsmen – Shubman Gill, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli – on his way to a memorable five-wicket haul, with valuable support from Charith Asalanka's four-wicket contribution, which resulted in India being bowled out for 213.

In response, Sri Lanka's batting was initially jolted by Jasprit Bumrah, who quickly took two wickets before Mohammed Siraj joined the action. Although Sadeera Samarawickrama and Asalanka managed to forge a 43-run partnership, the spin duo of Kuldeep Yadav and Ravindra Jadeja soon turned the tide the game in India's favour. As India continued to chip away at the wickets, it appeared that another significant victory was on the cards. However, Dhananjaya de Silva and Wellalage provided India with a real scare by constructing a counterattacking partnership of 63 runs. Sri Lanka came close, but not close enough, as Hardik, Jadeja, and Kuldeep took the final four wickets, securing India's place in the Asia Cup final.

It's not often that a player from the losing team wins the Player of the Match award but Dunith Wellalage's performance is the type you don't see everyday. Kuldeep Yadav, for his four wickets, would have been a close contender but what this 20-year-old Sri Lankan youngster achieved today did not go unnoticed. A five-wicket-haul followed by a gritty knock of 42 not out. Sri Lanka have found a star for the future 

"We didn't expect this kind of wicket, I thought it was a batting wicket but we adjusted well, especially Wellalage, DDS and Asalanka. The luxury of two genuine batters, they have been bowling in the nets and I know their real potential, today I had the option of using them today. Seeing the last game against Bangladesh I knew he (Wellalage) would do something special today, he took Kohli's wicket and I was pretty sure it was his day and will take a couple more wickets," said the Sri Lanka captain.

KL Rahul: "It was amazing, we were trusted throughout. We were not on the field for 100 overs but how many ever overs we were there it tested us physically, great to see we turned up today and gave it our best. We turned up and that is a big tick mark for us as a team. Always happy when I contribute to the team, when you are batting in the middle order it is important to build partnerships. I have been out for 4-5 months, I will take anything that comes, it was a crucial partnership with Kishan. Third day in a row playing at the same venue, bit of spin but we managed it really well, we were 20-30 runs short, few more partnerships could have got us to 230-240. When you are behind the stumps, you have a good idea as to what the batter is doing and I just passed on the message, luckily it worked for Kuldeep (referring to his tip to Kuldeep before Samarawickrama's dismissal)."

And that's the game. India roar back strongly to pick up the final three wickets rather quickly to win the match by 41 runs and become the first team to enter the Asia Cup 2023 final. Full and straight from Kuldeep… and Pathirana plays all over it. Castled and Sri Lanka are bowled 172. A thrilling game but a not-so-thrilling finish in the end after all. 

India right back in the game. Kuldeep Yadav, returning for his final over has struck immediately. Traps Kasun Rajitha with a wrone one. Sri Lanka are 9 down now and Wellalage is stranded at the other end at 42.

A much needed breakthrough and it's produced by Hardik Pandya. Theekshana skies one in the air and the substitute fielder Suryakumar Yadav takes the catch. Easy peasy and India breathe.

Hardik Pandya joins the attack and he bowls a brilliant over, beating the outside edge couple of times. 

Two runs come in the over. SL 154-6 (35 overs)

Things are slowly getting out of hands for India as Dhananjaya and Wellalage stitch a 50-run stand. Rohit gets his most successful bowlers Jasprit Bumrah and Kuldeep Yadav bowling back into the attack.

However, the batters maintain the tempo as Bumrah concedes nine runs in the two overs he bowled. Kuldeep gives away 10 from one over as SL reach 152-6 after 34 overs.

With the partnership building, Rohit reintroduce Kuldeep Yadav into the attack. Dunith Wellalage, who was superb with the ball earlier, hots the spinner for a boundary. He then runs a double before passing the strike to Dhananjaya de Silva. 

Eight runs come from the over as Sri Lanka reach 133-6 in 31 overs.

Dhananjaya de Silva remains committed to his attacking style, and truthfully, it appears to be Sri Lanka's only path to have a fighting chance. Adopting a defensive approach won't yield any benefits for them. The five wides conceded by Axar Patel certainly didn't aid India's cause, and Dhananjaya's aggressive batting compounded their woes, resulting in a costly 9-run over. Sri Lanka's required runs are now fewer than 90.

WICKET! Rohit takes a sharp catch at slips to give Ravindra Jadeja his 1st wicket of the evening. Sri Lanka go 6 down. After bowling his first five overs from the other end, Jadeja took a breather before Rohit brought him back for his second spell. Immediately strikes and gets the big fish Dasun Shanaka, who has previously haunted India in ODIs, most recently this January itself. And full credits to Rohit, who plucks a sharp one-handed catch in the slips.

Axar Patel has had a somewhat lackluster beginning with the ball. He appears to be struggling to decipher the right approach on this pitch. In contrast, Dhananjaya de Silva seems to have a good grasp of how to bat effectively on this surface. He expertly executes a deft cut shot and follows it up with a powerful strike towards deep midwicket, resulting in a productive 9-run over for Sri Lanka. Score: 95/5 after 25 overs

Kuldeep offers a gift to Dasun Shanaka - loopy half-volley - and the Sri Lanka captain obliges. Mind you, this game is far from over. Yes, Sri Lanka may be five wickets down but they aren't chasing a big target. In Dhananjaya de Silva and Shanaka, they need a partnership and if SL get one, you never know. A 14th straight win is a strong possibility.

WICKET! Kuldeep strikes for the second time in just 2 overs, and the dangerous Asalanka is on his way back to the pavilion. Asalanka's affinity for the sweep shot becomes his undoing on this occasion. He inside-edges the ball onto his pad, and Rahul completes the dismissal with a diving catch. The Kuldeep-Rahul partnership is proving to be a formidable combination for India, as they successfully remove two well-set batsmen.

Sri Lanka now 73/5 in 20 overs.

You can't contain him! Kuldeep Yadav dismisses Sadeera Samarawickrama for 17 with a stumping. He lures Samarawickrama with a well-flighted delivery, enticing him to go for the shot outside off stump. The only hitch is the sharp turn, which leaves Samarawickrama swinging the bat in vain. Rahul efficiently gathers the ball and does his part to dislodge the stumps. Kuldeep's performance is nothing short of exquisite. Interestingly, there was a lengthy discussion between Kuldeep and Rahul during the interval between overs, and it appears the strategy they concocted has paid off. The expressions on their faces tell the story – priceless.

Sri Lanka 68/4 in 17.3 overs

Ravindra Jadeja finally created the opportunity but Ishan Kishan spoils his plans. Asalanka mistimes a sweep for the ball to gallop in the air. Ishan Kishan coming in from deep square leg gets underneath the ball but puts it down. The disappointment visible of Jadeja’s face as he tells Kishan to ‘coming running in’. Nonetheless, an opportunity goes begging for India. Could this be a big turning point?

KL Rahul is juggling the roles of both an umpire and the team captain. He has displayed remarkable accuracy with his decisions behind the stumps, making it regrettable that Rohit didn't heed his advice. Rahul once more keeps his cool and refrains from supporting an audacious appeal, a decision well-made. He also advises Jadeja to "dheere daal" (bowl it slowly) as Jadeja persists in firing those deliveries. It's worth noting that Wellalage troubled India with slower deliveries through the air, a tactic that Jadeja could potentially adopt as well.

Sri Lanka 62/3 and recovering well through Asalanka and Samarawickrama

In contrast to India's batsmen, the Sri Lankan players aren't content with merely defending or blocking the spin from either Jadeja or Kuldeep. They're displaying audacity, employing both orthodox and reverse sweeps. Essentially, they're actively seeking to accumulate runs, which, to be frank, isn't a poor strategy. However, considering the substantial turn that Kuldeep and Jadeja are extracting, the sustainability of this approach is bound to be intriguing. There's a palpable sense of something brewing, a potential tipping point loading.

The way Ravindra Jadeja bowled those first two balls, Muttiah Muralitharan would have jumped off his seat. The first ball turns almost 5 inches after pitching and the second squares up Samarawickrama. Lip-smacking stuff from Jadeja this if you’re a spinner. Keeps it tight in his first over as Sri Lanka reach 47/3 after 13. 

There you have it! The first spinner to take the stage for India is the one who haunted Pakistan last night right here at this venue. After all, why let good form go to waste? Coming off a five-wicket haul less than 24 hours ago, Kuldeep's wrist spin holds the potential to trouble Sri Lanka's batsmen significantly… and he almost does it first ball. Beats Asalanka's defense, prompting Rohit to launch an immediate appeal. KL Rahul opts against it, but the captain signals for the review, only for India to squander one. There is no discernible spike on the ultra-edge as the ball travels past the bat.

Ten overs have been bowled, yet Rohit Sharma persists with pace as Hardik Pandya enters the bowling attack for his maiden over. The required run rate hovers just above 4.3, but considering the Sri Lankan batsmen seem to be adapting to the pace, this might be an opportune moment to introduce one of our slower bowlers. The camera shifts its focus to Ravindra Jadeja, who can be seen warming up vigorously. He appears to be a likely choice for the first change in the bowling lineup. Recall the havoc Wellalage wreaked upon India, and Rohit would be banking on Jadeja's left-arm spin to produce a similar impact.

It takes Charith Asalanka 9 deliveries but he is finally off the mark with probably the shot of the innings. Overpitched from Siraj and Asalanka leans into the drive to cream it through the off side. And thanks to the lightning outfield, Ishan Kishan at covers gives up even before starting. He just goes to pick the ball up. Asalanka then follows it with another boundary – a top edge for 4. Doesn’t matter how they come as long as the runs are being scored.

The Powerplay is over and Sri Lanka move to 39/3 after 10 overs.

After getting beaten four balls in a row, Sadeera Samarawickrama connects one off Bumrah and rather sweetly through the covers. The ball races for a boundary – the fifth of their innings. Bumrah completes his fifth over and goes off the field to take a breather Despite there being not much swing or lateral movement, Bumrah has owned the batters two night in a row now with equally vicious opening spells. Welcome back, BOOM! Boy did we all miss you.

Sri Lanka 31/3 in 9 overs.

OUT! India have picked up a third wicket. This time it's Siraj with the blow as he sends Karunaratne packing. The former Sri Lanka captain was stuck and went into a shell but he should know that Siraj is not the bowler to go after and that too so soon. He too gets beaten for pace as Dimuth slashes at a wide one to give a catch to Shubman Gill at slips who takes it smartly.