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On the cricket-frenzied island of Sri Lanka, the buzzing city of Colombo is set to host a match that promises to add yet another chapter to the rich history of the Asia Cup. India, the seven-time champions, gear up to meet Sri Lanka in the Asia Cup 2023 finals. With a narrative of a five-year trophy hiatus, India will be on the prowl for redemption. Their last victory in senior men's cricket was in the 2018 Asia Cup, where under the captaincy of Rohit Sharma, they outplayed Bangladesh.
The Asia Cup has, more often than not, witnessed the dominance of these two cricketing powerhouses. While India leads the tally with 7 crowns, the Lankans trail by just one. However, the storyline for this year's final might have been different, as many predicted a classic India-Pakistan face-off. Pakistan, led by the formidable Babar Azam, had a surprising early exit, ending their journey in the Super 4s after defeats to both finalists.
Interestingly, though India and Pakistan's rivalry is one for the ages, they've never met in an Asia Cup final in its 39-year history. The India-Sri Lanka final face-off is more frequent, with both teams meeting seven times, out of which India emerged victorious in four.
The track record of these two nations isn't limited to the Asia Cup. Both have showcased their mettle in several major tournaments. Sri Lanka, the 1996 World Cup champions, have consistently found innovative ways to assert dominance. The recent memory of their victory in the Asia Cup Twenty20 in the UAE is proof of their tournament prowess.
Here's a deep dive into their head-to-head stats in major finals:
Asia Cup Encounters:
1988: India triumphed in Dhaka, winning by 6 wickets.
1991: Another Indian victory in Kolkata, this time by 7 wickets.
1995: Sharjah witnessed India overpowering Sri Lanka by 49 runs.
1997: Tables turned in Colombo as Sri Lanka defeated India by 8 wickets.
2004: Sri Lanka continued their winning streak, beating India by 25 runs in Colombo.
2008: Karachi saw Sri Lanka outclassing India with a 100-run victory.
2010: India reasserted dominance, beating the hosts Sri Lanka by 81 runs in Dambulla
World Cup and Champions Trophy Duels:
2002: The ICC Champions Trophy final in Colombo was rain-affected, leading to no result despite two attempts. Sri Lanka posted competitive scores on both occasions, but rain played spoilsport, not allowing a full game.
2011: In the iconic World Cup Final, India clinched the title by defeating Sri Lanka by 6 wickets.
2014: The T20 World Cup Final saw Sri Lanka exacting revenge, toppling India by 6 wickets.
Reflecting on their last Asia Cup final encounter in 2010, India set a target of 268, majorly due to Dinesh Karthik's sublime 66. The Sri Lankan batting lineup crumbled at 187 in 44.4 overs, with Ashish Nehra's 4-wicket haul being the highlight. Ravindra Jadeja, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli, the veterans from that game, are set to relive the rivalry in the 2023 edition.
With such a storied backdrop, the Asia Cup 2023 final promises cricketing action at its best. Fans globally await another nail-biter, hoping rain doesn't play spoilsport in what promises to be a clash for the ages.
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