Ishan Kishan headlines charge as India dominate Sri Lanka to book final Asian Games final berth
Team India cantered to a dominant win against Sri Lanka in the Asian Games 2026 semifinal, confirming their ticket to the summit clash. An Ishan Kishan special followed by a phenomenal bowling performance saw India roll over the inexperienced Sri Lankan side to sail into the finale.
Winning the toss, Sri Lanka opted to bowl first. Sahan Arachchige and Tharindu Rathnayake dealt a couple of early blows, sending Abhishek Sharma (7) and Sanju Samson (7) back to the pavilion early. However, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi looked in fine touch as he regulated the early charge for Team India, scoring 38 from just 21 balls.
Despite Indiaโs middle-order challenge, Ishan Kishan held fort and carved a special innings of 80 from just 46 balls, smashing four fours and five sixes, while striking at a rate of 173.91. India posted 169/7 at the end of 20 overs on a pitch where the ball wasnโt exactly coming onto the bat.
The Indian bowling came charging at Sri Lanka as Jasprit Bumrah knocked over Sineth Jayawardene and Sohan de Livera for ducks. To make matters worse Ravi Bishnoi affected a run-out to dismiss Lasith Croospulle for a platinum duck.
Chasing a significant number on the board, Sri Lanka had lost their first three wickets with just two runs in their bank. Nuwanidu Fernando (15) was the only Sri Lankan batter to get into double digits while 11 extras eventually contributed to the 45 on the board before they were bowled out.
Jasprit Bumrah, Axar Patel and Abhishek Sharma claimed two wickets each as India secured a monumental win by 124 runs, making it the largest win margin in any T20I semi-final played between two full-member nations. India grabbed the ticket to the finale, where they will play arch-rivals, Pakistan on 3rd October.
