History favours Sri Lanka

India and Sri Lanka have played 29 ODIs against each other over the last two-and-a-half years, but the clash on Thursday will have more significance than most of those matches, for they will be playing for the Asia Cup. India haven't won the tournament since 1994-95, while Sri Lanka triumphed in 2004 and in 2008. The home also team won the last group match on Tuesday, but India have dominated Sri Lanka recently, holding a 16-11 advantage since 2008, and an 8-5 edge in matches played in Sri Lanka during this period. The numbers were more even between 2000 and 2007, with Sri Lanka winning 14 and losing 15.

India have had the advantage over Sri Lanka over the last few years, but in multi-team tournaments the Sri Lankans have proven to be the better team. In matches contested in the Asia Cup overall, Sri Lanka are only slightly ahead of India. But in Asia Cup matches since 2000, they have been the more dominant side. India will definitely go into the game under pressure considering they have been outclassed in multi-team competitions, especially in the finals. Sri Lanka have won six finals against them since 2000 while India have won just one, when they triumphed in the Compaq Cup in 2009

Sri Lanka also hold the edge when it comes to matches in Dambulla, which is the venue for the Asia Cup final.

The tables below summarise the performance of Indian and Sri Lankan batsmen in matches against each other. The Indian batsmen, led by their captain MS Dhoni, have performed consistently over the last two years against Sri Lanka. Dhoni averages almost 60 with ten fifties, while middle-order batsmen Suresh Raina, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma have been successful too. Rohit, in particular, will take confidence into the final after a half-century in the previous game.

The Sri Lankan top-order batsmen have not had as successful a time against India over the last two years. Tillakaratne Dilshan stands out, though, with two centuries and an average of over 40. The fine form of Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene, who both scored fifties in the last group match, augurs well for Sri Lanka ahead of the final.

Among the bowlers, Harbhajan Singh has been outstanding for India while Pragyan Ojha has been economical. Nuwan Kulasekara has picked up the most wickets in India-Sri Lanka matches over the last two years, but Muttiah Muralitharan's performance has dropped significantly . Farveez Maharoof is in form, though, following his hat-trick in the last game.

India have an 8-5 advantage in matches in Sri Lanka since 2008, but in terms of batting and bowling numbers there isn't much to choose between the two teams. India are slightly ahead on the number of centuries scored but Sri Lanka have picked up more wickets at a slightly better bowling average.

Most teams have chosen to bat after winning the toss in the day-night games in Dambulla, but in four Sri Lanka-India contests at this ground, three have been won by the team chasing. Moreover, Sri Lanka have won all four of those games.