India crush Sri Lanka by 124 runs to set up historic gold-medal final against Pakistan

India's men's cricket team secured a commanding win over Sri Lanka in the second semi-final of the 2026 Asian Games on Thursday, October 1, booking a place in the final against Pakistan for the gold medal.

Shaky top order, rescued late

India's top order struggled badly — Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson were both dismissed for 7, Tilak Varma managed just 2, captain Shreyas Iyer fell for 13, Akshar Patel made 8 and Shivam Dube 3. The innings was rescued by opener Vaibhav Suryavanshi, who hit 38 off 21 balls (6 fours, 2 sixes), and above all by Ishan Kishan, who struck an unbeaten 80 with 4 fours and 5 sixes. Sources differ on the exact number of balls he faced — Maharashtra Times reports 46 balls, while ABP Majha reports 45. Thanks to Kishan and Suryavanshi, India reached 169 for 7 in 20 overs, setting Sri Lanka a target of 170. Sahan Arachchige and Thirindu Ratnayake took two wickets each for Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka collapse

Chasing the target, Sri Lanka's batting fell apart, being bowled out for just 45. According to Maharashtra Times, Jasprit Bumrah took two wickets in the very first over, and he finished with three wickets overall, alongside Akshar Patel and Abhishek Sharma, who also claimed three each. Six Sri Lankan batters failed to score, with Nuwanidu Fernando top-scoring on just 15. India's margin of victory was 124 runs.

A historic final against Pakistan

In the first semi-final, Pakistan defeated Bangladesh, who had posted 111 for 7, chasing the target down with four wickets in hand and nine balls to spare. As a result, India and Pakistan will meet on October 3 for the gold medal — the first time these two sides have faced each other in an Asian Games cricket final.

India made their Asian Games debut in 2022 in Hangzhou under captain Ruturaj Gaikwad and won gold immediately, beating Sri Lanka in that final, with Bangladesh taking bronze. Pakistan has competed since cricket was added to the Games in 2010 but has never won gold — they took bronze in 2010, finished without a medal in 2014 in Incheon, and again without a medal in 2022. According to Maharashtra Times, India's playing XI featured Vaibhav Suryavanshi, Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson, Shreyas Iyer, Ishan Kishan, Tilak Varma, Shivam Dube, Akshar Patel, Washington Sundar, Ravi Bishnoi and Jasprit Bumrah.