India crush Sri Lanka by 124 runs to set up Asian Games gold-medal clash with Pakistan
Ishan Kishan's unbeaten 80 and a stunning Sri Lankan collapse for 45 sealed India's 124-run semi-final win at the Asian Games 2026.
India stormed into the men’s cricket gold-medal match at the Asian Games 2026 after crushing Sri Lanka by 124 runs in Thursday’s second semi-final at Korogi Sports Park in Nisshin, Japan.
Sri Lanka won the toss and asked India to bat, but the defending champions posted 169/7 in their 20 overs, built around Ishan Kishan’s superb unbeaten 80 off 46 balls, featuring four fours and five sixes. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi counter-attacked for 38 off 21 deliveries, while captain Shreyas Iyer made 13 and Abhishek Sharma 7. Tharindu Ratnayake and Sahan Arachchige took two wickets each for Sri Lanka.
The chase collapsed almost immediately. Jasprit Bumrah struck twice in the opening over, removing Sineth Jayawardena and Sohan de Livera, and Axar Patel claimed two more in the fourth over as Sri Lanka slipped to 18/5 — their lowest score at the fall of the fifth wicket in T20Is. Abhishek Sharma finished the match in the 10th over with two wickets, as Sri Lanka were bowled out for 45 in 9.5 overs.
India will now defend their Asian Games gold against Pakistan in Saturday’s final. Pakistan beat Bangladesh by six wickets in the first semi-final, which was reduced to 13 overs a side by a wet outfield. Sri Lanka drop into the bronze-medal match against Bangladesh.
Sources
- Business Standard — India crush Sri Lanka by 124 runs, set up Asiad cricket final vs Pakistan
- SportsTiger — India thrash Sri Lanka by 124 runs to reach Asian Games 2026 final
- Free Press Journal — Asian Games 2026: Team India thrash Sri Lanka by 124 runs in semi-final
- Times Now — India book blockbuster Asian Games gold medal clash with Pakistan
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