In cricket, it is rare for a player from the losing side to be awarded the Player of the Match. This shows that even though the other team won, the player’s performance was exceptional. A similar moment unfolded in the T20 Asia Cup 2025 Super-4 clash between India and Sri Lanka. India secured a thrilling victory in a Super Over, but Sri Lanka’s opening batsman, Pathum Nissanka, was named Player of the Match.
Nissanka played a brilliant century in the final Super-4 match, scoring 107 runs off 58 balls with 7 fours and 6 sixes at the Dubai Stadium. This marked the first time in Asia Cup 2025 that a player from the losing team received the Player of the Match award.
India batted first after losing the toss and posted a score of 202/5. In response, Sri Lanka matched the score with 202 runs for 5 wickets in their allotted 20 overs, pushing the match into a Super Over. In the Super Over, India’s fast bowler Arshdeep Singh delivered a spectacular performance, bowling five balls for just two runs (including a wide) and taking two wickets. This gave India a target of three runs. Captain Suryakumar Yadav ensured victory by running three runs off Wanindu Hasaranga’s first ball.
Earlier in the match, while chasing the target, Kusal Mendis was dismissed by Hardik Pandya in the first over. Nissanka then partnered with Dasun Shanaka (32 balls, 58 runs) to anchor the innings and aggressively challenge the Indian bowlers. The duo shared a 120-run partnership for the second wicket. In less than 12 overs, Sri Lanka added 128 runs, raising pressure on India’s captain Suryakumar Yadav. Spinner Varun Chakravarthy broke the partnership by dismissing Shanaka in the 13th over. Nissanka was eventually dismissed by Harshit Rana in the 20th over after completing his first T20 International century off 52 balls.