IND v SL: Dream11 picks and Playing XIs for Men's Asian Games 2026 second semi-final
India will face Sri Lanka in the second semi-final of the men's cricket tournament at the 2026 Asian Games at Korogi Sports Park in Nisshin on Thursday, October 01, with the match due to start at 10 AM IST; the winner will progress to the final.
The tournament's last six matches were washed out completely, so the four semi-finalists were determined by the current rankings: India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh qualified while Afghanistan, Nepal, Hong Kong and Malaysia were eliminated without playing their quarterfinals. Both India and Sri Lanka enter the semis having not yet played a game in this competition. The pair will meet for a contest on a surface described in reports as sluggish.
Organisers describe the semifinal-day weather forecast as encouraging after several days of rain, with Thursday in Nisshin predicted to be clear and sunny. Reported conditions include a temperature of around 29°C and average humidity of 39 percent. The wicket at Nisshin is characterised as slow and sluggish, and following consistent rain both the surface and outfield are expected to have slowed. That combination is expected to favour bowlers, with spinners likely to benefit from grip and turn, and bowling second is cited as a tactical advantage.
These sides have met 33 times in ODIs: India have won 23 matches, Sri Lanka nine, and one game finished with no result. Both teams still await their first match of this Asian Games tournament. The fixture is therefore framed as a direct contest on a slow track in Nisshin, where conditions could shape selection and match tactics.
India's announced XI reads: Sanju Samson (wk), Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan, Shreyas Iyer (c), Tilak Varma, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Ravi Bishnoi, Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah. Sri Lanka's XI is: Niroshan Dickwella (wk), Lasith Croospulle, Nuwanidu Fernando, Sahan Arachchige (c), Ashen Bandara, Chamika Karunaratne, Dushan Hemantha, Tharindu Ratnayake, Binura Fernando, Vijaykanth Viyaskanth, Nuwan Thushara. Shreyas Iyer is named as India's captain in the lineup and Sahan Arachchige as Sri Lanka's captain, with Niroshan Dickwella listed as Sri Lanka's wicket-keeper.
Suggested Dream11 selections published for the match include multiple combinations. One set lists wicket-keepers Ishan Kishan and Niroshan Dickwella; batters Shreyas Iyer and Abhishek Sharma; all-rounders Axar Patel, Chamika Karunaratne, Sahan Arachchige and S Jayawardene; and bowlers Jasprit Bumrah, Nuwan Thushara and Arshdeep Singh, with Captain First-Choice: Ishan Kishan, Captain Second-Choice: Arshdeep Singh, Vice-Captain First-Choice: Sahan Arachchige and Vice-captain Second Choice: Jasprit Bumrah. An alternative set lists wicket-keepers Ishan Kishan, Niroshan Dickwella and Sanju Samson; all-rounders Axar Patel, Chamika Karunaratne, Sahan Arachchige and S Jayawardene; bowlers Jasprit Bumrah, Vijaykanth Viyaskanth and Arshdeep Singh, with Captain First-Choice: Abhishek Sharma, Captain Second-Choice: Axar Patel, Vice-Captain First-Choice: Sanju Samson and Vice-captain Second Choice: Chamika Karunaratne.
The preview notes that Sri Lanka have a capable side and that bowling first to restrict India would improve their chances, while the assessment provided favours India on balance. The publishers state their backing for India to win the semifinal on Thursday.
The IND vs SL semi-final at the Asian Games 2026 will be played on October 01, 2026 at Korogi Sports Park, Nisshin; the winner will advance to the final. For more updates, follow Khel Now Cricket on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Youtube; download the Khel Now Android App or IOS App and join our community on Whatsapp & Telegram.