It's not India vs Pakistan, but it's the final of a major tournament and based on how India and Sri Lanka have played so far in this edition of the Asia Cup this clash of two teams in blue promises to be a cracker of a contest.

India suffers blow ahead of Asia Cup final, Axar Patel ruled out with injury; Washington Sundar inCricket fans the world over will be hoping that the rain in Colombo doesn't affect the game.

There is a reserve day in place, but everyone would like to see one uninterrupted contest.Both teams have enjoyed tremendous success in the tournament over the years and with Sri Lanka playing in home conditions, Rohit Sharma and co.Read AlsoAsia Cup Final, India vs Sri Lanka: India, Sri Lanka meet with bigger goals in mindIndia and Sri Lanka will face off in the Asia Cup final, with India considered favorites on paper.

However, Sri Lanka's home advantage and the support of their passionate fans could give them an edge.

Sri Lanka has a strong record against India in tournament finals, and their spinners have troubledAsia Cup 2023 Final, India vs Sri Lanka, Colombo Weather Forecast, September 17: Rain threat remains but reserve day in placeIndia and Sri Lanka finished the 'Super 4' stage with four points each to qualify for the final, but India finished on top by virtue of having a better net run rate.

Bangladesh and Pakistan, who finished third and fourth respectively, were eliminated.will have their task cut out as they aim to win the crown of Asia's best cricket team.Ahead of the big final, the TOI Sports Desk looks at some of the most interesting statistics involving these two teams in the Asia Cup, over the years:# Sri Lanka's success % of 69.09 is the best by any team in the Asia Cup, winning 38 - losing 17 out of 55 contests.# Sri Lanka have won five Asia Cup Finals out of ten played - vs Pakistan in 1986; vs India in 1997, 2004 - 2008 and vs Pakistan in 2014.# India have also won five Asia Cup Finals out of eight contested - in 1988; in 1991; in 1995 - 2010 - all four vs Sri Lanka and vs Bangladesh in 2018.

India won the first 1984 Asia Cup as well (without playing the Final as it was a round robin league)# India's success % of 62.96 is the second best, winning 34 - losing 17 out of 54 played (Tied 1 - No Result 2).# Sanath Jayasuriya's 125 off 114 balls at Karachi on July 6, 2008 remains the highest by a Sri Lankan batter against any opponent in the ASia Cup Final.# Mahela Jayawardene - Lahiru Thirimanne were involved in a stand of 156 vs Pakistan at Mirpur on March 8, 2014 - Sri Lanka's highest partnership in an Asia Cup Final.# Sri Lanka's highest partnership in an Asia Cup final against India remains 137 for the first wicket at Colombo (RPS) on July 26, 1997.# Captain Mohammad Azharuddin's unbeaten 90 off 89 balls vs Sri Lanka at Sharjah on April 14, 1995 remains the highest by an Indian batter in the Asia Cup Final.# Azharuddin was associated in an unbroken stand of 175 for the third wicket with Navjot Singh Sidhu (84 not out) vs Sri Lanka at Sharjah on April 14, 1995 - the highest stand for any wicket by any pair in the final of the Asia Cup.

The said stand remains the only century stand for India in a winning cause in the final of the Asia Cup.# Just two bowlers have produced five-wicket hauls in the Asia Cup finals - both Sri Lankans - Ajantha Mendis (6 for 13 vs India at Karachi on July 6, 2008) and Lasith Malinga (5 for 56 vs Pakistan at Mirpur on March 8, 2014).# The best figures by an Indian bowler in the final of the Asia Cup remains Kapil Dev's 4 for 31 vs Sri Lanka at Eden Gardens, Kolkata on January 4, 1991.

# Ashish Nehra had produced 4 for 40 in India's triumph by 81 runs in the Asia Cup Final vs Sri Lanka at Dambulla on June 24, 2010 but Dinesh Karthik got the Man of the Match award for top scoring (66) in India's innings of 268 for six.# Sanath Jayasuriya is the only Sri Lankan batter to post a hundred vs India in the Asia Cup Final - 125 by Sanath Jayasuriya at Karachi on July 6, 2008.# The only hat-trick in the Asia Cup final has been accomplished by Kapil Dev, dismissing Roshan Mahanama, Rumesh Ratnayake and Sanath Jayasuriya off successive balls at Eden Gardens, Kolkata on January 4, 1991.# Sri Lanka's Farveez Maharoof remains the only other bowler to produce a hat-trick in the Asia Cup, dismissing Ravindra Jadeja, Praveen Kumar and Zaheer Khan off consecutive deliveries.# India (97/0) had become the first team to record a ten-wicket triumph in the Rothmans Asia Cup at Sharjah on April 8, 1984 - vs Sri Lanka (96).

By defeating Nepal by ten wickets at Pallekele on September 4, 2023, India became the first and only team to register two such wins in the Asia Cup.# Sri Lanka (191/0) remains the only other team to win by ten wickets - vs Bangladesh (190 for nine) at Colombo (RPS) on July 23, 2004.# India remains the only country to chase 300-plus targets successfully three times in the Asia Cup - twice vs Pakistan and once vs Sri Lanka.

India's total of 330 for four vs Pakistan (329/6) at Mirpur on March 18, 2012 remains the highest by any team in a successful chase in the Asia Cup.

# Virat Kohli's career-best ODI score of 183 off 144 balls in a successful chase vs Pakistan at Mirpur on March 18, 2012 remains the highest individual score in the history of the Asia Cup.

The next highest successful score also stands in his name - 136 off 122 balls vs Bangladesh at Fatullah on February 26, 2014.# Sri Lanka's Muttiah Muralidaran, with 30 wickets at 28.83 runs apiece in 24 matches, remains the top wicket-taker in the Asia Cup.

His only five-wicket haul is 5 for 31 vs Bangladesh at Karachi on June 30, 2008.# The top wicket-taker for India in the Asia Cup is Ravindra Jadeja - 25 wickets at 26.28 runs apiece in 19 matches, including two four-wicket hauls.# India's Rohit Sharma has hit 28 sixes in 26 innings - the most by a batter in the Asia Cup.

# Three players share the record for most sixes (seven) in an innings in the Asia Cup -Pakistan's Shahid Afridi (twice), India's Sourav Ganguly and Afghanistan's Mohammad Shahzad.

Stats Courtesy: Rajesh Kumar