Sri Lanka's sensational win in their Super 4 match in Dubai on Tuesday seems to have thrown the prediction of a straightforward showdown between India and and Pakistan in the final out of the window.
Pakistan avenged their loss to India in the group phase by chasing down 182 with one ball to spare through stunning knocks by Mohammad Rizwan and Mohammad Nawaz. Then Sri Lanka put a terrible start to the campaign - an eight-wicket loss to Afghanistan - behind them by chasing down 174 against the Indians with one ball in hand at the Dubai International Stadium.
That means both Pakistan and Sri Lanka are one step closer to the final that will take place in Dubai on Sunday.
India's qualification for the title match that earlier seemed to be a formality is now looking almost impossible.
Remaining matches of Asia Cup 2022
Wednesday, September 7: Afghanistan v Pakistan, Sharjah (6pm)
Thursday, September 8: Afghanistan v India, Dubai
Friday, September 9: Sri Lanka v Pakistan, Dubai
Sunday, September 11: Final, Dubai
Super 4 points table:
1. Sri Lanka: 2 matches, 4 points, net run rate 0.351
2. Pakistan: 1 match, 2 points, NRR 0.126
3. India: 2 matches, 0 points, NRR -0.125
4. Afghanistan: 1 match, 0 points, -0.589
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Pakistan's Shadab Khan bowls against India in the Asia Cup 2022 clash at Dubai International Cricket Stadium. Pawan Singh / The National -
India's Virat Kohli playing a shot in Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National -
Shadab Khan, second from right, celebrates after taking the wicket of KL Rahul. Pawan Singh / The National -
Shadab Khan celebrating after taking the wicket of KL Rahul. Pawan Singh / The National -
KL Rahul walks back to the pavilion after being bowled by Shadab Khani. Pawan Singh / The National -
Virat Kohli playing a shot during his innings of 60. Pawan Singh / The National -
Mohammad Nawaz catches Suryakumar Yadav. Pawan Singh / The National -
Virat Kohli is run out by Asif Ali. Pawan Singh / The National -
Virat Kohli top scored for India. Pawan Singh / The National -
Pakistan's Mohammad Rizwan plays a shot. Pawan Singh / The National -
Mohammad Rizwan celebrates after scoring his half-century against India. Pawan Singh / The National -
Mohammad Rizwan celebrates his half-century. Pawan Singh / The National -
Pakistan's Babar Azam hits out. Pawan Singh / The National -
Pakistan's Mohammad Nawaz on his way to a quickfire 42 as Pakistan beat India during the Asia Cup Twenty20 Super Four match at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on September 4, 2022. AFP -
The view from the stands during India vs Pakistan at the Asia Cup 2022. Pawan Singh / The National -
India fans during the match. Pawan Singh / The National -
India fans during the game. Pawan Singh / The National -
The view from the crowd during the game. Pawan Singh / The National -
Pakistan at the Asia Cup 2022 match against India. Pawan Singh / The National -
The view from the stands during India vs Pakistan at the Asia Cup 2022. Pawan Singh / The National -
India fans at the Asia Cup 2022. Pawan Singh / The National -
The crowds at the Asia Cup in Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National -
Pakistan celebrate their victory. Pawan Singh / The National -
Players shake hands at the end of the game. Pawan Singh / The National
How can India qualify for the final?
As is expected in such scenarios, India will need a lot of favours from other teams to make it to the final. Firstly, they need Pakistan to lose both their remaining matches. India must then beat Afghanistan by a big enough margin to leapfrog Pakistan in the points table. If that happens, India and Sri Lanka will make it to the final.
However, if Pakistan defeat Afghanistan on Wednesday, it will mean end of the road for India as the team in green will jump to four points and qualify alongside Sri Lanka.
The only ray of hope for India is the toss. Teams chasing in Dubai have had a massive advantage this Asia Cup and also the T20 World Cup last year. Only Hong Kong have failed to chase down a target this tournament.
What next?
India captain Rohit Sharma has insisted there are no concerns even though there are just a couple of months to go before the T20 World Cup in Australia.
"The team is 90-95 per cent settled. Few changes will happen, that's about it," he said.
"There are lot of questions that we need to answer and in the last three or four series that we've played, we've found some answers. There will be a time where we will draw the line and we'll say this is the combination that we're going to play."
The opening batsman, who hit 72 from 41 balls against Sri Lanka, said the Asia Cup defeats had not dampened the squad's spirit.
"All the players are relaxed and chilled," he added.
"We want to maintain an atmosphere in the dressing room which does not change based on a win or a loss. There's nothing lacking as such, the team has quality. We have played and won so many matches."
