This triumph marks only the second time in nine editions of the Asia Cup (across ODI and T20I formats) that India have lost a final, with the previous instance being against Bangladesh in 2018.
Chasing a formidable target of 166 runs, Sri Lanka’s innings was anchored by the exceptional performances of captain Chamari Athapaththu and Harshitha Samarawickrama.
Athapaththu’s blistering 61 off 43 deliveries, which included nine boundaries and two sixes, combined seamlessly with Samarawickrama’s resolute 69 not out off 51 balls, featuring six fours and two maximums.
The duo forged an 87-run partnership for the second wicket, with Athapaththu’s aggressive approach complementing Samarawickrama’s more measured innings. Athapaththu reached her half-century in just 33 deliveries, while Samarawickrama required 43 balls for the same milestone.
Their contrasting shot selections added depth to the partnership, with Athapaththu scoring freely around the wicket and Samarawickrama employing clever placements and reverse sweeps.
After Athapaththu’s dismissal, Samarawickrama found an able ally in Kavisha Dilhari, who contributed an unbeaten 30 off 16 balls. Their unbroken 73-run stand for the third wicket guided Sri Lanka to their target with nine balls to spare.
Earlier, India posted a competitive total of 165/6, propelled by Smriti Mandhana‘s conditions-defying 60 off 47 deliveries, which included ten boundaries. Jemimah Rodrigues (29 off 16) and Richa Ghosh (30 off 14) provided valuable support, but the Indian batters often struggled against Sri Lanka’s spin-heavy attack on a slow pitch.
The Sri Lankan bowlers, led by Dilhari’s 2/36, exploited the conditions effectively, stifling the Indian batters and forcing them to improvise. Mandhana’s innings was a standout, as she overcame the challenges posed by the surface and capitalized on her reprieve after being dropped early in her innings.
Despite Mandhana’s efforts, India’s middle-order batters found it difficult to score freely, and it was the late flourish from Ghosh and Pooja Vastrakar that propelled India past the 160-run mark.
Ultimately, Sri Lanka’s disciplined bowling and composed batting proved too much for India, as the underdogs claimed their first-ever Asia Cup title in a historic triumph.
