Colombo: A day after thoroughly outplaying arch-rivals Pakistan in a rain-hit Super 4 clash, Team India were back on the field on Tuesday to face Sri Lanka.
This time, the men in blue faced a much sterner test, but still came up trumps on a spinner-friendly Premadasa Stadium pitch to seal a spot in Sunday’s Asia Cup final. And they did so with a game in hand – against Bangladesh on September 15.
To know who their opponents in the final will be, red-hot India will have to wait another day.
Bangladesh are already eliminated, and even a win against India won’t help their cause.
It’s between Pakistan and Sri Lanka, who face off on Thursday.
The fans in the subcontinent will be wishing for another India versus Pakistan blockbuster.
Pakistan and Sri Lanka have 2 points each, both having beaten Bangladesh and lost to India.
So Babar Azam’s men can book a date with India only if they get the better of hosts Sri Lanka.
Sri Lanka, on the other hand, will qualify for the final if they beat Pakistan or even if there is a no-result.
The net run-rate (NRR) will come into play if the unpredictable weather – which washed out the India-Pakistan group league clash and pushed their Super 4 match into the reserve day – plays spoilsport again tomorrow.
Sri Lanka (-0.200) currently have a better NRR than Pakistan (-1.892), hence a no-result will mean both teams finishing with 3 points and the home team going through.