The stage is set for the Asia Cup 2023 final where mighty India will lock horns with confident Sri Lanka in a thrilling showdown on Sunday, September 17, contrary to the expectations of it being a lopsided match. Former India's star all-rounder and World Cup winner Irfan Pathan, voicing his thoughts on the marquee event, recently shared on social media platform 'X', highlighting the competitive edge the final will offer.
"Playing finals against Sri Lanka will be better for team India as it won't be a one-sided affair," mentioned Pathan on 'X', thereby increasing the anticipation levels for the clash slated to happen at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo come Sunday, September 17.
The road to the final witnessed some exhilarating cricketing moments. Sri Lanka clinched their final spot by outperforming Pakistan in a semi-final thriller in Colombo. The rain-affected match, downsized to 42 overs for each team, witnessed Pakistan setting an imposing target of 252, thanks to Mohammed Rizwan's unbeaten knock of 82 and commendable contributions from Abdullah Shafique and Iftikhar Ahmed.
Chasing this formidable score, Kusal Mendis led the Sri Lankan reply with a brilliant 91. Solid partnerships with Sadeera Samarawickrama and Charith Asalanka ensured Sri Lanka's triumph, concluding the game with two wickets to spare. This outcome denied cricket aficionados the much-anticipated India-Pakistan Asia Cup final.
India's journey to the finale was rather assertive. They stamped their authority in the Super-4 stage by registering thumping victories over both Pakistan and Sri Lanka. Their 228-run triumph over Pakistan, followed by a 41-run win against Sri Lanka, both at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo, reflected their dominance.
The final now sets the stage for a titanic clash. India will be on the quest to secure an unprecedented eighth Asia Cup title, while Sri Lanka will aim to clinch their seventh. The historical context further intensifies the rivalry; this will be the eighth instance where these two teams compete for the coveted Asia Cup in the finals.
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