Cricket - IPL 2024

Why was there no super over in the first ODI between India and Sri Lanka?

Published: 04 August 2024

The first ODI between India and Sri Lanka was a nail-biter. Both teams fought hard, and it looked like India was going to win comfortably. But Sri Lanka made a stunning comeback, clawing their way back into the match. In the end, the scores were tied, and the game ended in a draw. The result left fans on the edge of their seats, but one question lingered: Why wasn't there a Super Over? The rules of ODI cricket stipulate that a Super Over is not mandatory in case of a tie. Unlike the T20 format, where a result is paramount, ODIs often allow for a draw. Most people remember the super over in the biggest cricket match of all, the World Cup final between England and New Zealand which is often considered as one of the best ODI match of all time as the super over in that match also got tied. But the hosts England won the contest and eventually the whole tournament on the basis of their boundary count which some fans didn’t like. But in normal matches like this where there are no high stakes or any knockout matches, teams just have to share the win. While it added to the drama of the India-Sri Lanka encounter, it also left a sense of incompleteness among fans who were craving a decisive result.