India to face Pakistan in Asian Games 2026 cricket final after 124-run semi win over Sri Lanka

India defeated Sri Lanka by 124 runs in a men’s cricket semi-final at Karogi Sports Park, Nisshin on Thursday to reach the Asian Games 2026 final. They will meet Pakistan for the gold medal on October 3.

Asked to bat, India lost Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson early, each dismissed for seven. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi scored 38 and together with captain Shreyas Iyer (13) added 35 for the third wicket. Ishan Kishan carried his T20I form into the contest with an unbeaten 80 as India finished on 169 for seven.

Sri Lanka’s chase began disastrously when Jasprit Bumrah took two wickets in the first over. The visitors tumbled to 33 for seven inside seven overs and were bowled out for 45, with Nuwanidu Fernando’s 15 the only double-digit score. India’s margin of victory was 124 runs.

Pakistan became the first team through to the final after defeating Bangladesh in the first semi-final. That match was cut to 13 overs because of a wet outfield; Bangladesh posted 111 for 7 in 13 overs and Pakistan reached the target in 11.3 overs to win by six wickets.

The meeting of India and Pakistan in the gold-medal match is noted as likely to attract worldwide attention and the final has been described as expected to be another blockbuster clash. The last time the two sides met at a major tournament was during the ICC T20 World Cup 2026, when India won comfortably and went on to win the tournament.

The men’s cricket gold-medal match between India and Pakistan is scheduled for October 3.