Defending champions India secured their place in the Asian Games men’s T20 cricket final on Thursday with a commanding 124-run victory over Sri Lanka at the Korogi Sports Park in Nishin, Japan. Setting a total of 169 runs on a challenging, turning surface, the Indian bowling unit dismantled the opposition, skittling Sri Lanka out for just 45 runs in less than ten overs to book a high-stakes gold medal clash against arch-rivals Pakistan.
Choosing to field after winning the toss, Sri Lanka made immediate inroads into the Indian top order. Openers Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson fell cheaply, leaving India reeling at 24 for two. The early wobble brought 15-year-old prodigy Vaibhav Suryavanshi to the crease, who counter-attacked brilliantly with a brisk 38 off 21 balls, striking six boundaries and two sixes to wrest back momentum.
Despite Suryavanshi’s effort, India found themselves under pressure again at 87 for four. Ishan Kishan then took charge of the innings, adapting expertly to the slow and unpredictable pitch. Starting with calculated caution before shifting gears in the death overs, Kishan smashed an unbeaten 80 from 46 deliveries, including four boundaries and five towering sixes, lifting India to a competitive 169 for seven in their 20 overs.
Sri Lanka’s pursuit of 170 unravelled almost immediately. Strike bowler Jasprit Bumrah struck twice in the opening over, trapping Sineth Jayawardene leg-before before having Sohan de Livera caught. A sharp direct hit from Ravi Bishnoi to run out Lasith Croospulle left Sri Lanka in disarray at two runs for three wickets inside two overs. Left-arm spinner Axar Patel compounded the crisis in the fourth over by removing Sahan Arachchige and Ashen Bandara, as pressure mounted and resulted in two further run-outs.
Devastated by precision bowling and fielding errors, Sri Lanka were bowled out for 45 in 9.5 overs, with Nuwanidu Fernando the sole batter to reach double figures. Bumrah, Patel, and Sharma claimed two wickets apiece. The 45-run total stands as the joint-lowest score recorded by a ICC Full Member nation in men’s T20 international history.
India now progress to Saturday’s final on 3 October at the same venue, aiming to retain the gold medal they won at the Hangzhou Games in 2023. Pakistan defeated Bangladesh by six wickets in the first semi-final to reach their maiden Asian Games men’s cricket final, setting up a gold medal showpiece between the continental rivals, while Bangladesh and Sri Lanka will contest the bronze medal match.
