That is all from me (Rajarshi Majumdar) ladies and gentlemen. Hope I could entertain you today. Hope to see you soon. Good night all!
Hardik Pandya gets an award for the best catch.
Yuvraj Singh gets an award for being the coolest player of the match.
Virat Kohli is the man of the match yet again. No surprise really!
10:27: India have won three games in a row in this Asia Cup here and as a result they have cruised into the big final which will be played on March 6 at the same venue.
The run chase would have never been easy. India lost two early wickets and that put a little bit of pressure on the Men in Blue but Kohli and Raina batted beautifully to ease off that pressure. The two added 50 runs in no time.
After Raina got himself out, Yuvraj came out and played a superb cameo of 35 runs from just 18 balls. That turned the game in India's favour for sure.
But one man can do no wrong at the moment and he goes by the name of Virat Kohli. He is been in outstanding form recently and he has equalled the record of Chris Gayle and Brendon McCullum of most number of 50's in T20 cricket (13).
Dhoni came out to bat when 14 runs had to be scored and as usual he finished it off with Kohli in style.
The bowlers did a terriffic job early on in the match and then the batsmen did the rest to propel India to the final.
Four! Finishes it off in style - VIRAT KOHLI! India are into the final of Asia Cup.
Dot ball!
India need 1 run from the last over with Kohli on strike!
Boundary from Kohli. With that he brings up his half century. What a player what an innings.
Single!
SIX! Vintage Dhoni! Went straight back past the bowlers head.
Dot ball!
Single from the first ball. spin out of nowhere in the 19th over.
Last 12 balls 14 needed!
Bowled! Hardik Pandya is GONE! Herath picks him up. Plays down the wrong line completely and Herath is a class bowler. Beautifully bowled by the left-arm bowler. India stiil have Kohli and Dhoni out there in the middle at the moment. India 125/5 in 18 overs. 14 more needed from 12 balls.
GONE! Yuvraj is out. 35 runs from just 18 balls. Incredible stuff. The short ball did him. He was caught in the fine leg area. India 122/4 in 17 overs. 17 more needed.
10:11: We are just being treated with a vintage Yuvraj Singh! This is just like the old swag as Professor Deano says in the commentary box. 50 of the partnership comes up as well.
The umpires have decided to change the ball finally! The dew forced this move.
10:04: This should be easy now for India. MS Dhoni and his boys have been on a rampaging run of late. Kohli is yet again playing a different innings in this match. Yuvi is playing the big shots and thus he is knocking around those singles. Every game someone or the other is stepping up for India and that is excellent for the team. Yuvi is probably avenging that ICC World T20 2014 Final defeat. What an innings this has been so far from Yuvi. India 112/3 in 16 overs. 27 more needed.
10:00: Yuvraj Singh is playing a wonderful innings here and he is showing the world that he still has it in him. He is striking at 200 now. Kohli has calmed down at the other end as Yuvi is only delaing in sixes and fours. What a player Yuvi is, the intent is clear from him. He wants to finish this game quickly. 9 runs came from that over. India 105/3 in 15 overs. 34 more needed.
9:55: The required run rate was creeping up and all of a sudden it has come down to 6.6. With those two blows in that Herath over, things have become way more easier for India. Sri Lanka are staring at yet another defeat here. Meanwhile, Chameera bowled a decent over under the circumstances. Damage limitations may be. India 96/3 in 14 overs. 43 more needed.
Yuvi is back! Trademark stuff from the left-handed batsman.
9:46: Herath bowled a good over here. These kind of overs can exert pressure on the Indian batsmen while chasing down this target here. Meanwhile Kohli and Yuvi are not taking any risk against Herath at the moment. Yuvi hit a flat six down the ground and followed it up by a huge one over mid-wicket as well. At the moment, the dew is affecting the ball in the ground. The outfield is not dry at all. 15 runs from that over. India 92/3 in 13 overs. 47 more needed.
9:42: Yuvraj SIngh is out in the middle. An opportunity for him to prove his mettle. The required run rate is creeping up slowly. Pressure will be more on Kohli however. But Yuvi cannot be underestimated either. He can hit the ball a long way as well. India 77/3 in 12 overs. 62 more needed.
Dasun Shanaka is into the attack and Raina is gone! Almost dropped by Kulasekara. This is a hug wicket for Sri Lanka. Raina mistimes one and skied the ball and Kulasekara somehow managed to hold on to it after fumbling initially. India lose their third. India 70/3 in 11.1 overs.
9:37: Herath should be expecting some turn off the deck like Ashwin and Jadeja did while India were bowling. Meanwhile, this is just easy for India at the moment. Mathews will have to think and do something here. No pressure whatsoever on Kohli and Raina. India 70/2 in 11 overs. 69 more needed.
Rangana Herath with the ball now and Kohli easily guides it down to long off for a single.
9:32: Chameera is bowling at a real good pace here but has failed to make any impact whatsoever unlike other games. He was the one who troubled Indian batsmen during that T20 series in India last month. But Kohli and Raina are getting into good positions to knock that ball around and keeping the scoreboard ticking. Halfway through the run chase now. India are clear favourites to win this game now. 50 partnership comes up as well. Superb stuff from Kohli and Raina. India 66/2 in 10 overs. 73 more needed.
9:28: This partnership is surely going to hurt Sri Lanka. None of the Sri Lankan bowlers are causing any problem for either of these two batsmen here. Kohli has been in the form of his life that is for sure. It is evident with the way he is batting in every game. Raina and Kohli are scoring more than 6 runs an over by just running now. 8 runs from that over. India 58/2 in 9 overs. 81 more needed.
9:23: Kohli is playing some delightful strokes here. What a cover drive to show Chameera that he is bowling to the best in the world currently. That boundary eases of the pressure again. The singles will also hurt them as the target is not big. This match will be over in no time if they do not break this partnership. Chameera's over was not that effective as Kohli and Raina easily took 8 runs from that over. India 50/2 in 8 overs. 89 more needed.
Chameera is into the attack and straight away he beats Raina with his pace.
9:18: This is not looking good for Sri Lanka. Kohli and Raina are doing it easily here. They need to break this partnership immediately. Lovely hand and eye co-ordination shown by Kohli. This shows why is one of the best in the world right now. India 42/2 in 7 overs. 97 more needed.
9:14: As long as Kohli is out there in the middle, India are on top of this game for sure. His consistency has always been one of the keys to India's success in the recent times. His average while chasing in Bangladesh in T20s is pretty much threatening too (83). Sri Lanka need to break this partnership here or else the match will slip away quickly out of there hands. India 37/2 in 6 overs. 102 more needed.
Kohli smashes another one for four!
9:10: This is a good start for Sri Lanka. But they should be aware that Kohli stands in between them and the victory. His temperament is so crucial in such situations. Raina too is one of the best in business. India 25/2 in 5 overs. 114 more needed.
Kohli welcomes Mathews with a classy glance through the mid-wicket for a four.
Raina finishes off the over with a lovely flick through the square leg and the ball races away for a boundary. India 20/2 in 4 overs. 119 more needed.
Raina has taken a knock here. The ball came back in sharply.
GONE! ROHIT is dismissed. Kulasekara takes another one. Lazy shot from Rohit. There was no need to play that shot. The ball was pitched well outside that off-stump and Rohit went through with the drive and edged it to the first slip. Good low catch from Kapugedera. India 16/2, India are of to a messy start here. Thus I was saying, this is not an easy wicket to bat on. Raina is out in the middle now alongside Virat Kohli.
Kulasekara to continue.
9:01: Oh dear! Almost another wicket as the ball falls just short of the mid on fielder. But it was times well enough to take it to the boundary. Rohit living dangerously there in the middle. Meanwhile, Virat Kohli is out at the crease. India 16/1 in 3 overs. 123 more needed.
GONE! Dhawan is gone. India 11/1 in 2 overs. Kulasekara had a nice shape going away from Dhawan and he edged that on the way to the keeper. Big wicket for Sri Lanka here. Just I was talking about. Wicket is what Sri Lanka need. 128 more needed.
8:56: India has started of well here. They will not let the Sri Lankan bowlers to exert pressure on them here. Rohit has hit Kulasekara for another boundary in that over. At this moment, India are doing it nicely here. Wicket is what Sri Lanka need here, that too the early ones.
Kulasekara to share the new ball with Mathews and Rohit plays and misses.
8:51: This is going to be a good challenging run chase for India. It is not an easy wicket to bat on. The presence of Dhawan and Rohit at the crease is important for India. Running between the wickets has to be of the top draw. Rohit crunched one on the front foot for four from the 5th ball. India 6/0 in 1 over. 133 more needed.
Here is the first ball and Dhawan plays it down to the covers. Dot ball.
Mathews will bowl the first over.
The openers are walking out in the middle. Rohit and Dhawan at the crease.
The second innings will resume soon, so do not go anywhere ladies and gentlemen!
8:37: This was yet another good bowling effort from India. All the bowlers have contributed and that is exactly what made things difficult for Sri Lanka early on in the innings.
Cameos from Thisara Perera and Nuwan Kulasekara helped Sri Lanka to get to somewhat respectable a total of 138.
None of the batsmen could stand up in the occasion to help them go past that 160-run mark.
Perera's stumping should have been referred to the TV umpire. Unfortunately, it was given out by the on-field umpire. Perera might have got the benefit on doubt. But this is cricket and we have to move on.
Sri Lanka finish on 138/9 in 20 overs.
Last ball coming up and the batsman is run out. Good throw from Virat Kohli.
Dot ball! Precious at this moment.
FOUR! Clobbered through the covers. This is good stuff from Sri Lanka.
FOUR! Kulasekara can bat let me remind you. 140 will be a good score on this wicket.
Single again. This is not going to hurt India at all.
Last over of the innings and Nehra bowls a wide full toss - single taken.
Single again from the last ball. Good finish for Ashwin. Sri Lanka 127/8 in 19 overs.
Single for Chameera.
OUT! Stumped! Wide outside the off stump. Terriffic stuff from Ashwin. Small cameo from Perera comes to an end.
Single from Kulasekara
Lucky enough, it did not reach the fielder. Perera survives.
Perera can hit the ball! Smashes Ashiwn for a colossal six!
Single from the first ball
8:20: Last two overs, India have bounced back brilliantly here. From breaking that partnership between Siriwardana and Kapugedera, to that catch from Pandya. Bumrah has picked up another here. But Thisara Perera is still out there. He can do some damage in these remaining overs. Sri Lanka 115/7 in 18 overs.
GONE! Pandya has taken a wonderful catch. Kapugedera is dimissed. Sri Lanka 105/7.
RUN OUT! How often do we get to see this. Free hit for Sri Lanka and it went straight to the fielder. Shanaka is gone. What an over from Ashwin. Just four runs from it and two wickets. Sri Lanka 104/6 in 17 overs.
GONE! Ashwin strikes and Siriwardana is dismissed. Ashwin is never scared to flight that ball and he did again tempting Siriwardana to take him on. The youngster fell for the trap and he skied the ball and Raina does not miss those dollys. Sri Lanka lose another at the stroke of 100. Just as a partnership was threatening India it was broken by Ashwin. Sri Lanka 100/5.
8:09: Dhoni is trying to do something here thus he went back to Pandya and finished off his over. Pandya has that knack of picking up that odd wicket at crucial moments in these kind of games. That is what makes him a clever T20 bowler. Sri Lanka have four more overs in their hands and they just got to 100. Sri Lanka 100/4 in 16 overs.
8:06: Ashwin will feel that he was unlucky there. The ball went high up in the air and falls in no mans land. Siriwardana has to be careful while playing those sweep shots. On the other hand, Kapugedera has opened his arms here. He is playing the shots with way more confidence now. India need a wicket here to get back into this match. Sri Lanka 91/4 in 15 overs. Last 5 overs to be bowled.
8:02: Kapugedera smashed Raina for a boundary. The next ball he almost played himself down like Mathews did but quickly runs for a single. This partnership is growing here. These two batsmen can hurt India in the end overs here. 9 runs came from that over. Sri Lanka 84/4 in 14 overs.
Raina has the ball now. Can he pick up a wicket here?
7:58: Siriwardana smashed Jadeja for the first six of the innings from the second ball of the over. He is a talented cricketer as Russell Arnold mentioned in the commentary box. He followed that six up with a boundary. This is intelligent cricket from the youngster. He is also looking to rotate the strike. Kapugedera has clearly struggled out there in the middle. Another expensive over. 13 runs from it. Sri lanka 75/4 in 13 overs.
7:54: Nothing can go wrong when Ashwin is bowling to Sri Lankan batsmen it seems. He is carrying his good form from that Sri Lanka series and trying to implement it here. Fall of wickets have hurt Sri Lanka again in this tournament. Good over from Ashwin comes to an end. Sri Lanka 62/4 in 12 overs.
Ashwin is into the attack now.
BOWLED! What a comeback from Pandya. Mathews is GONE! Sri Lanka 57/4 in 11 overs.
7:49: Mathews is trying to target young Pandya here. Things are getting a little tight here for the Lankans. Only 9 overs left after this, they will have to make a move on from here. They still have seven wickets in hand. They have the license to take on the attack. Mathews struck two boundaries in similar fashion through the mid on area. This is better batting.
Mathews welcomes Panyda with a boundary. 50 up for Sri Lanka.
7:46: Sri Lanka skipper Angelo Mathews has been struggling out there in the middle. He tried to hit one for a six but he did not time the ball well and in the end it earned him a bondary. He is trying to break the shackles here. Sri Lanka 47/3 in 10 overs.
Jadeja is into the attack now and Kapugedera plays it for a single.
7:43: A decen over from Pandya comes to an end. Kapuegedera played a smart shot down the third man area for a four. But one boundary will not help Sri Lanka's cause here. Pandya has been economical in this tournament and he is doing it well for India again in this match here. Sri Lanka 41/3 in 9 overs.
Pandya to continue.
7:39: Yuvraj is not firing the ball in here. He is also getting a little bit of turn here. He is such a clever bowler under such circumstances. the flight from the spinner is doing the job at the moment. Singles will not hurt India. Just 3 runs came from that over. Sri Lanka 35/3 in 8 overs.
Yuvi is into the attack!
7:36: Pandya has been so impressive in the past few games with the ball as well. He has hit that good length area so well in that middle overs where the run rate dips further. A successful over as the all-rounder bagged that big wicket of Dilshan. Sri Lanka 32/3 in 7 overs.
ALMOST ANOTHER RUN OUT. Unlucky Pandya.
GONE! Pandya has picked up Dilshan here. Good plot here against Dilshan. The back of the length delivery from Pandya worked. He tried to hook one over the fine leg boundary but the ball went straight down the throat of the fine leg fielder.
7:30: Dilshan has started to play his shots here. India will have to be wary of these two batsmen at the crease. Dhoni cannot allow the pressure to ease of their opponents here. Rotating the strike will make things easier for Sri Lanka. The powerplay overs are done. This was the most expensive over in this match so far. 9 runs came from that. Sri Lanka 31/2 in 6 overs.
7:24: Nehra has bowled yet another fantastic over here. By picking up wickets early, Nehra and Bumrah are allowing Dhoni to stick to his plan, which has been working ever since the Australia tour. These seamers are giving no room to any of the batsmen which is making things difficult for them. A huge appeal for LBW but the umpire denied. Sri Lanka 22/2 in 5 overs.
7:18: Sri Lanka have lost two of their batsmen here. Just what they did not want today. chamara kapugedara has been promoted up the batting order. Fantastic over from bumrah comes to an end. Sri Lanka 15/2 in 4 overs.
GONE! Jayasuriya has been dismissed by Bumrah. Superb bowling from Bumrah as well. He maintained that tight line and length. He hit the deck hard and took a faint edge on its way to MS Dhoni. Sri Lanka are struggling here. Yet another poor start for the Lankans.
7:14: Nehra is not giving any room whatsoever to any of the Sri Lankan batsmen. He has bowled yet another good over and that too a succesful one. Wonderful start for India again. Sri Lanka 9/1 in 3 overs.
GONE! Chandimal is out. Ashish Nehra strikes. Indian bowlers were tightening things up and clearly Chandimal was becoming impatient. He tried to hoik one over the square leg but gets a faint edge and Dhoni makes no mistake.
Nehra to continue and a brilliant save by Ravi Ashwin at short fine-leg.
7:08: Bumrah has also bowled a fine over here. He has been oustanding in the last couple of months. Chandimal and Dilshan have shown positive intents but the Indian seamers have been right on the money yet again. Brilliant over from Bumrah comes to an end as just 1 run came from that over. Sri Lanka 5/0 in 2 overs.
Jasprit Bumrah will share the new ball with Nehra and a dot ball to start with.
7:03: The ball is swinging from the word go. Ashish Nehra has started well here. Dhoni has read the pitch correctly it seems. Attacking intent shown right from the start by India. There was an appeal of a LBW in the 5th ball of the over but an inside edge saved Chandimal. Sri Lanka 4/0 in 1 over.
Dilshan smacked it to the cover boundary for a four in the second ball. First boundary of the match.
Here is the first ball and Chandimal guides it down to the mid on for no run.
Dinesh Chandimal will face the first ball from Ashish Nehra.
The players are walking out in the middle now.
The live action will begin any moment from now. Are you ready guys?
The match will start in another 25 minutes time. Get your popcorns and soft drinks because I bet you will not be able to blink during this catch.
Here are the teams for you ladies and gentlemen:
Sri Lanka are unchanged and they will play the same XI that played against Bangladesh.
India have made just one chaneg to their squad - Ajinkya Rahane has been replaced by Shikhar Dhawan.
TOSS TIME - India have won the toss and they will bowl first.
It is the same wicket that India played against Pakistan. There are cracks visible in the wicket. Looks like it is going to be a batting wicket. A better wicket than the one we have seen so far.
Pitch report and the toss is on its way!
Big game for Yuvraj Singh as well, he will look to avenge that loss in the ICC World T20 2014 final against Sri Lanka. There he is taking some lessons from Matthew Hayden:
Sri Lanka might be without their skipper Lasith Malinga who is yet to recover from his injury.
Rohit Sharma might sit out for this game as he took a knock on his toe from that Mohammad Amir yorker. Shikhar Dhawan also is suffering from a niggle. MS Dhoni is being troubled by that back spasm.
Both the teams have a number of injury concerns to deal with and those are not good news for anybody.
The game is scheduled to begin in an hour's time so do not go anywhere ladies and gentlemen. Stay tuned for further updates of the live action!
Meanwhile Sri Lanka are struggling to find their form. They somehow managed to win their opening match against UAE but lost their second game against hosts Bangladesh. In order to stay afloat in this tournament, this match against India is a must win enounter for the Lankan Lions as they will have to face Pakistan in their final match of the tournament, which is going to be a tough game.
India have already won both their matches in this tournament and they are the favourites to win this tournament but cricket is a funny game as we all know. Anything can happen at any moment, so India vs Sri Lanka promises to be yet another thrilling clash between the two neighbouring nations.
This is Rajarshi Majumdar and I will be bringing you the live updates of the action from the riveting encounter. Stay tuned to this live update counter as it is going to be a cracker of a match for sure.
Hello and good evening ladies and gentlemen! Welcome to the live blog coverage and updates of the Asia Cup T20 2016 match between India and Sri Lanka, which is being played at the Shere Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur, Dhaka.
