Gautam Gambhir poses with Sri Lanka flag after 2022 Asia Cup final

Sri Lanka scripted a famous Asia Cup glory in Dubai on September 11, Sunday, after registering a convincing victory against Pakistan in the final. This brought up their sixth Asia Cup title and their first since 2014 in a major multi-nation event. Former India batter Gautam Gambhir was full of praises for the Sri Lankans, and he was also seen posing in front of cameras with a Sri Lanka flag.

Many experts and fans believed India and Pakistan to be the favourites but it was Dasun Shanaka’s men who beat all the odds to get their hands on the trophy. It was especially unexpected for Sri Lanka to go all the way as they started their Asia Cup campaign in the worst possible way, with Afghanistan thrashing them by eight wickets and 59 balls to spare.

Ever since, they won all the remaining games of the competition - a remaining group game against Bangladesh, all three Super 4 games and the final, to clinch the trophy. Meanwhile, Gambhir took to his social media to congratulate the champions as he wrote, “Superstar team...Truly deserving!!.”

Wanindu Hasaranga puts on all-round show in final

It was not all well for the Sri Lankans from the get-go as they lost the toss and were put in the dreaded position of batting first in Dubai. It soon went from bad to worse for the tournament hosts as they lost their first five wickets for only 58 in 8.5 overs, courtesy of some ruthless bowling by Haris Rauf and Naseem Shah.

Then came the all-important partnership of 58 by Bhanuka Rajapaksa and Wanindu Hasaranga for the sixth wicket, which put them in a respectable position. Hasaranga departed for a valuable 36 off 21, and the star of the innings was Rajapaksa, who scored unbeaten 71 off 45 as Sri Lanka finished with a competitive total of 170/6.

Pakistan’s chase kicked off against left-arm pacer Dilshan Madushanka, who gave the Lankans a horror start, bowling a no-ball and eight wides before bowling a legal delivery in the over. However, the Men in Green could not capitalise much on that, losing their first two wickets in the fourth over for 22. More damage was done by Hasaranga in the middle as he picked up three key wickets in the same over. From then on, the game was completely under Sri Lankans' grasp as Pakistan were bowled for 147 in 20 overs.