Dubai [UAE]: Ahead of Sri Lanka’s final Super Four match against India in the Asia Cup, all-rounder Dasun Shanaka emphasized that his team has a “point to prove” despite being eliminated from the tournament. The match, scheduled as a dead rubber, will see India, already through to the final against Pakistan, face an out-of-contention Sri Lanka in what Shanaka called a “good clash” ahead of next year’s T20 World Cup co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka playing for pride

Sri Lanka exited the Super Four stage with two losses, following an unbeaten group stage campaign. Shanaka acknowledged India as the tournament’s strongest opponent but stressed that his side would approach the game with pride and intent. “We are still good enough, but unfortunately out. But we’ve got a World Cup coming up, so this is a good clash against India. The boys have got a point to prove in this competition before leaving Dubai,” he told ANI.

Shanaka’s record against India

In 24 T20Is against India, Shanaka has scored 430 runs in 22 innings at an average of 26.87, including two fifties and a strike rate exceeding 140. His highest score against India is an unbeaten 74.

Praising Indian players

Shanaka lauded India’s dominance in T20 cricket over the past decade and highlighted players who could turn the game. He called Indian skipper Suryakumar Yadav a “big match player,” despite the batter scoring only 59 runs in four innings during the Asia Cup so far. He also praised Jasprit Bumrah, who has taken five wickets at an average of 22, and Abhishek Sharma, currently in peak form.

Sharma has scored 248 runs in five innings in the Asia Cup, averaging 49.60 with a strike rate of 206.66, including two half-centuries and a top score of 75. He is the tournament’s leading run-scorer and is 34 runs shy of surpassing Pakistan’s Mohammed Rizwan (281 runs in six innings) for the best-ever T20I Asia Cup performance by a batter.

Upcoming match anticipation

Shanaka’s remarks underscore Sri Lanka’s intent to finish the tournament on a positive note, using the clash as preparation and motivation ahead of the 2026 T20 World Cup.

Squads

Sri Lanka: Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis(w), Kusal Perera, Charith Asalanka(c), Kamindu Mendis, Dasun Shanaka, Wanindu Hasaranga, Chamika Karunaratne, Dushmantha Chameera, Maheesh Theekshana, Nuwan Thushara, Dunith Wellalage, Kamil Mishara, Nuwanidu Fernando, Binura Fernando, Janith Liyanage

India: Abhishek Sharma, Shubman Gill, Shivam Dube, Suryakumar Yadav(c), Hardik Pandya, Tilak Varma, Axar Patel, Sanju Samson(w), Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Varun Chakaravarthy, Arshdeep Singh, Harshit Rana, Rinku Singh, Jitesh Sharma.