The match between India and Sri Lanka is one of the biggest matches to be played during the 2025 Asia Cup. However, it was postponed because of a storm system causing constant rain throughout the entire event. The match was set to occur at the ICC Academy Ground located in Dubai, which is widely regarded as one of the best places in the world to play youth cricket, and has hosted many top youth cricket events and tournaments each year. Both teams had a number of players who could compete at this level; hence, the crowd expected to see some exciting competitive cricket. Unfortunately, the ground was so wet from the heavy rain, and there were many pitches; therefore, due to weather conditions, no player played even one ball on the day of the match.
What Happens If the Match Is Washed Out?
Tournament regulations dictate who will advance to the finals in the event that heavy rain prevents the match being played. Currently, the regulations do not permit for a reserve day for semi-final matches. In terms of qualification for the finals in the event of a rainout, qualification will be based on which team has the better group stage record. India U-19 (coached by Ayush Mhatre) finished their group stage unbeaten in Group A after defeating Pakistan and Malaysia with easy wins and UAE. As well, Sri Lanka also performed well, but the combination of India finishing with more points and better net run rate puts India into the advanced position if the match is rained out. The fans of both teams are waiting for the newest weather reports and for official confirmation from the Asian Cricket Council (ACC).
India U-19, Sri Lanka U-19 Weather Conditions in Dubai
Dubai has experienced continuous rain for several days, which interrupted many of the tournament games. The forecast for Friday still remains uncertain due to forecasted rain throughout the day. Ground crews are working hard to dry out the fields as quickly as possible, however, currently there is no indication that play could resume before 3.30 PM IST, when a minimum 20-over match is permitted to occur.
India U-19, Sri Lanka U-19 Match Details and Weather Impact
Ground staff worked around the clock to dry the pitch and boundary during the delay, but rain continued to fall, preventing any play because of a soggy outfield. The umpires checked the state of the field on more than one occasion but found no change. Eventually, the cut-off time passed for a shortened match, and the umpires had no option but to cancel the match under the tournament rule that states if a semi-final is abandoned, then the better performing group will proceed to the final.
India U-19 Squad Analysis
The India U19 side was viewed as one of the strongest contenders to win this particular championship. The captain of the team was Ayush Mhatre, who was able to guide the team through its successful run with the contributions of many players who had impressive performances throughout this season.
- Ayush Mhatre led this team with poise. He was composed and demonstrated a calm demeanor while playing under pressure. His batting style is very consistent and his approach to batting is very mature and responsible.
- Vaibhav Suryavanshi, a 19-year-old left-handed batsman, has caught the attention of many with the amount of confidence and ability he has displayed in his play at the crease. He plays much older than he is.
- Aaron George has been a major contributor to the middle order of this team. Aaron can hit the ball a long way and has consistently performed well for this team in tough times.
- Deepesh Devendran has provided great all-around contributions to this team. Whenever Deepesh has played, he has contributed an impacted with his hitting and his bowling.
- Kanishk Chouhan, a young bowler for this team, has had a tremendous amount of impact on the team's performance with the number of important wickets he has taken during the group stage matches.
Sri Lanka U-19 Squad Analysis
The Sri Lanka U-19 team fought their hardest to reach the semi-finals led by captain Vimath Dinsara and displayed tremendous resilience and skill throughout the tournament.
- Captain Vimath Dinsara is an astute and dependable top-order batter.
- Dimantha Mahavithana has been perhaps the best performing young spinner for the team in the middle overs.
- Viran Chamuditha is an extremely talented all-rounder who has performed well with both bat and ball.
- Dulnith Sigera is a fast bowler who has been successful in taking important wickets.
- Sethmika Seneviratne has been a reliable middle-order batter with the ability to play significant match-winning innings.
The semi-final path for Sri Lanka was one of both strength and unity. The removed match could have disappointed the squad as being thrown away but gave them much needed experience in showing their skill on the world stage.
India U-19 vs Sri Lanka U-19 Asia Cup 2025 Semi-Final: Match Status
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India U-19, Sri Lanka U-19 Path to the Final
Due to the abandonment of the semi-finals, India moved into the finals based on their better record from the group-stage. The organisers of the tournament have now confirmed that the finals will take place at the ICC Academy Ground in Dubai, which could lead to a highly anticipated match between India and Pakistan. With both teams in fine form, the anticipation for this match is through the roof.
India U-19, Sri Lanka U-19 Key Takeaways and Insights
- Though the abandonment of the match suggests the unpredictable nature of the sport, due to inclement weather, the Indian team continues to prove themselves through consistent performances and their depth of players. In addition
- Sri Lanka's youth development programme is producing quality players who will be future stars of the game for Sri Lanka.
- The upcoming final between India and Pakistan has the makings of an exciting match, as both teams feature very talented rosters.
The toss for the U19 Asia Cup semi-final between India and Sri Lanka has been delayed due to rain and a wet outfield in Dubai. The next inspection is scheduled for 11 am local time, with a cut-off for a 20-over match at 2:02 pm local time. pic.twitter.com/RgpugqFzGD
— Gully Point (@gullypoint_) December 19, 2025
What’s Next for India and Sri Lanka U-19?
If it rains and the match is unable to take place, due to both India having far more victories during group stage than any other team, they will automatically qualify for the final; while on the other hand, due to having a significant number of losses in their group stage, Sri Lanka will have the most difficult time making it into the finals. The other factor in determining the final will be what happens in the Semi-Final match between Pakistan and Bangladesh, which also will potentially be impacted by rain.
