India proved their domination once more in the Asia Cup 2025, winning their sixth straight game following a close match against Sri Lanka. At first, it looked like India would win the match easily, but it developed into an exciting game that India won in the end with a Super Over. But a questionable call by the umpire that started a heated argument overshadowed the final result.
A T20 Thriller Is Happening
Sri Lanka elected to bowl first after winning the toss, but this choice didn’t seem to work out because India’s batters took over. In their 20 overs, India’s top order scored a strong 202 runs for 5 wickets, with Abhishek Sharma scoring 61 and Tilak Varma scoring 49*. The impetus was clearly with India, especially after Hardik Pandya got rid of Sri Lanka’s Kusal Mendis on the fourth ball of their chase.
But Sri Lanka had other ideas. The second wicket partnership of Pathum Nissanka and Kusal Perera, which was an amazing 127 runs, changed the game totally. Perera’s fast 58 set the tone, and Nissanka kept going, hitting a great century in just 52 balls. He scored an amazing 107 runs off just 58 balls, putting Sri Lanka back into the game and forcing a Super Over all by himself.
The “Dead Ball” Argument
The Super Over itself was suspenseful, but the fourth legal delivery was the most talked-about part of the whole thing. Indian fast bowler Arshdeep Singh threw the ball to Sri Lankan skipper Dasun Shanaka, who missed it. Shanaka tried to sneak a single on a bye as the ball went to wicketkeeper Sanju Samson. Samson quickly smashed the stumps at the striker’s end, trapping Shanaka short of his crease.
But something else happened with the same ball that changed everything. The umpire also awarded Samson a caught-behind out judgment, which he had asked for. Dasun Shanaka went for a review after seeing this. Replays made it evident that there was no advantage, hence the caught-behind call was wrong. But this is where the cricket rulebook came in: since the umpire had already called the ball “dead,” it was no longer in play. This made Samson’s great run-out, which happened after the umpire’s first call, no longer valid.
Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav and the umpire had a long and intense argument on the field after this decision. Even though Yadav protested, the call on the field stayed “not out.”
India Wins in the Middle of Drama
India, on the other hand, didn’t let the controversy stop them. Arshdeep Singh, who wasn’t bothered by what had happened before, delivered a great next delivery to get rid of Shanaka. Sri Lanka could only get 2 runs in their Super Over because the strain was too much. India only needed three runs to win, and they easily got them on the first ball of their Super Over. This was a hard-fought triumph that kept them unbeaten in the competition.
While India celebrated their win, cricket fans and experts kept discussing about the “dead ball” rule and the umpire’s decision.