India and Sri Lanka are two of the most successful teams in Asia Cup history. They’ve met 23 times and have created many classics. Their rivalry is super close – India’s won 12, and Sri Lanka’s won 11.
Asia Cup Head-to-Head
| Format | Matches Played | India Wins | Sri Lanka Wins |
|---|---|---|---|
| ODI | 19 | 10 | 9 |
| T20I | 4 | 2 | 2 |
| Total | 23 | 12 | 11 |
This is the closest rivalry in Asia Cup history for so long across different formats.
How the Teams Have Changed
| Period | India Key Players | Sri Lanka Key Players | Dominance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s–1990s | Azharuddin, Tendulkar | Jayasuriya, Aravinda de Silva | Sri Lanka |
| 2000s–2010s | Dhoni, Sehwag, Rohit Sharma | Sangakkara, Muralitharan | India |
| 2020s | Kohli, Bumrah, Siraj | Mendis, Hasaranga | Balanced |
Sri Lanka was the better team early on, mostly when the pitches helped spin bowlers. But India took over in the 2000s and 2010s and won key games including the finals.
Most Memorable Matches
| Year | Result | Highlight |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | India won by 81 runs (Final) | Gambhir 96, Nehra 4/40 |
| 2014 | Sri Lanka won by 6 wickets | Malinga 5/38 |
| 2018 | India won by 7 wickets | Rohit Sharma 111* |
| 2023 | India won by 10 wickets (Final) | Siraj 6/21, Sri Lanka 50 all out |
The 2023 final was something special. India bowled out Sri Lanka for 50 and chased the runs in 6.1 overs – the fastest ODI final ever.
Asia Cup Overall
| Team | Matches Played | Wins | Win % |
|---|---|---|---|
| India | 23 | 12 | 52.17% |
| Sri Lanka | 23 | 11 | 47.83% |
