**Sri Lanka vs Bangladesh: Asia Cup 2025 Super Four Opener Preview**
*By Rajdeep Saha | Sep 19, 2025 | 06:15 PM IST*
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Sri Lanka and Bangladesh are set to face off in the opening match of the Super Four stage of Asia Cup 2025. The highly anticipated clash will take place at the Dubai International Stadium, starting at 8:00 PM IST.
### Match Overview
Sri Lanka enters this contest on a strong winning streak, having already defeated Bangladesh in their group-stage encounter, as well as Afghanistan. Meanwhile, Bangladesh is eager for redemption after their earlier loss to Sri Lanka in the tournament.
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### Team Form
#### Sri Lanka on a Winning Spree
Led by Charith Asalanka, Sri Lanka has been dominant in the Asia Cup so far, winning all three of their group matches — including a convincing victory over Bangladesh. The team’s confidence soared after Kusal Mendis and Kamindu Mendis successfully chased down a 170-run target against Afghanistan in their last match. This win helped ease some pressure off opener Pathum Nissanka, who has been in fine form but has needed more support from the middle order.
#### Bangladesh Looking for Redemption
On the other side, Bangladesh is aiming to turn their fortunes around after some disappointing performances. The team has already made one strategic change, replacing Parvez Hossain with Tanzid Hasan. Hasan impressed on debut with a quickfire 50, signaling a possible revision in Bangladesh’s powerplay approach. However, bowling balance remains a concern that Bangladesh must address ahead of this crucial Super Four opener against Sri Lanka.
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### Player Spotlight
#### Key Players to Watch
Mustafizur Rahman will be a vital player for Bangladesh. He impressed with three wickets against Afghanistan in the previous match, although he was expensive during the group game against Sri Lanka. For Sri Lanka, Kusal Mendis will be pivotal. His unbeaten 74 in the last match helped Sri Lanka secure a six-wicket victory over Afghanistan. Mendis is also Sri Lanka’s second-highest run-getter against Bangladesh across formats, boasting four centuries.
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### Match Conditions
#### Pitch Report and Weather
The game will be played at the Dubai International Stadium, where batters have maintained a strike rate of 109.26 in this Asia Cup, according to ESPNcricinfo. The slow nature of the Dubai pitches tends to favor spinners, which could play a key role in match tactics. The weather forecast predicts a typical hot evening, setting the stage for an exciting battle between these two teams.
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### Head-to-Head and Dubai Records
In 21 meetings between these sides, Sri Lanka holds the upper hand with 13 wins, while Bangladesh has secured 8 victories. At Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Bangladesh has played 4 matches with an even record of 2 wins and 2 losses. Sri Lanka has played nine T20 Internationals at this venue, winning 6 and losing 3.
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### Probable XIs
**Bangladesh Probable XI:**
Tanzid Hasan, Saif Hassan, Litton Das (c & wk), Towhid Hridoy, Shamim Hossain, Nurul Hasan, Jaker Ali, Rishad Hossain, Nasum Ahmed, Taskin Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman.
**Sri Lanka Probable XI:**
Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis (wk), Kamil Mishara, Kusal Perera, Charith Asalanka (c), Kamindu Mendis, Dasun Shanaka, Wanindu Hasaranga, Maheesh Theekshana, Dushmantha Chameera, Nuwan Thushara.
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### Stats: Top Performers in 2025
– **Bangladesh:**
– Litton Das leads as the top run-scorer among Full Member sides in T20Is this year, amassing 513 runs at an average of 32.06.
– Tanzid Hasan follows with 459 runs from 16 matches.
– Taskin Ahmed is Bangladesh’s leading wicket-taker with 16 wickets in 7 matches.
– **Sri Lanka:**
– Pathum Nissanka has scored 354 runs across 10 matches, making him their top scorer in 2025.
– Dushmantha Chameera leads the bowling charts for Sri Lanka with 12 wickets from 6 matches.
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With both teams boasting key players in form and a high-stakes encounter on the horizon, the Sri Lanka vs Bangladesh match promises to be an exciting start to the Asia Cup Super Four stage. Don’t miss the action live from Dubai!
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