India will face Sri Lanka in the first semi-final of the men’s cricket tournament at the Asian Games 2026 on Thursday, October 1. The match will be played at Korogi Sports Park in Nisshin, with India looking to defend the gold medal they won in the previous edition.
Both teams advanced directly to the semi-finals after rain washed out their respective quarter-finals. As the higher-seeded teams, India and Sri Lanka progressed automatically. If rain forces this semi-final to be abandoned, India will advance to the gold medal match because of their higher seeding.
India will field a full-strength T20I squad led by Shreyas Iyer. Sri Lanka, led by Sahan Arachchige, have named a second-string squad and will look to challenge the strong Indian side for a place in the gold medal match.
IND vs SL Match Preview & Recent Form
India have won their last seven matches. Shreyas Iyer’s side recovered from series defeats against Ireland and England with 3-0 wins over Zimbabwe and Afghanistan before beating Japan in the Asian Games.
Ishan Kishan has been India’s leading T20I run-scorer this year, with 905 runs in 27 innings at a strike rate of 171. Sanju Samson has also scored 526 runs in 18 T20Is at a strike rate of 179.52. Shivam Dube has added 502 runs at a strike rate of 170 and taken 15 wickets this year.
Arshdeep Singh and Jasprit Bumrah will lead the pace attack, with Washington Sundar and Ravi Bishnoi providing spin options. Arshdeep has taken 30 wickets in his last 22 T20Is, while Bumrah has claimed 22 wickets in his last 15 matches at an economy rate of 7.22.
Sri Lanka have selected a second-string squad for the tournament, with Sahan Arachchige leading the side. He scored 240 runs in 10 innings during the Lanka Premier League 2026 at a strike rate of 147.23.
Niroshan Dickwella is the most experienced batter in the squad, with 28 T20I appearances and 480 runs at a strike rate of 131. Sineth Jayawardena is another player to watch after scoring 686 runs in 25 domestic T20s at a strike rate of 150.
Chamika Karunaratne leads the bowling attack in terms of international experience. Nuwan Thushara will be another key threat after taking 36 wickets in 31 T20Is and 14 wickets in nine LPL matches this year. Garuka Sanketh and Binura Fernando provide further bowling options.
India have also won their last five T20Is against Sri Lanka. The last two meetings went to Super Overs, with India winning the most recent contest after Arshdeep Singh took two wickets while conceding only two runs.
IND vs SL Live Streaming, Live Telecast: Where To Watch Asian Games 2026 Semi-Final?
Cricket fans in India can watch the India vs Sri Lanka Asian Games 2026 semi-final live on the Sony Sports Network. The match will begin at 10:00 AM IST. The semi-final will also be streamed live on the SonyLIV app and website.
IND vs SL Pitch Report: How Will Korogi Sports Park Play?
The pitch at Aichi Prefectural Korogi Sports Park in Nisshin has produced slow surfaces that have favoured spin bowlers. Batters have found it difficult to score freely. Recent rain could make conditions even slower for the semi-final.
Fast bowlers could find some movement with the new ball, while spinners could play a key role in the middle overs. With the average first-innings score at 108, batters will need to build partnerships and adapt to the pace of the pitch. Captains winning the toss may prefer to bat first and put runs on the board.
Aichi Prefectural Korogi Sports Park T20 Stats
Total Matches: 10 (4 completed, 6 no result/abandoned)
Won Batting First: 2
Won Bowling First: 2
Average 1st Innings Score: 108
Average 2nd Innings Score: 87
Highest Team Total: 149/4 (Nepal vs Japan)
Lowest Team Total: 80/6 (Oman vs Hong Kong, China) & 81 (Japan vs Afghanistan)
Highest Score Chased: 103/5 (Nepal vs Afghanistan)
Lowest Score Defended: 121/8 (Hong Kong, China vs Oman)
Highest Individual Score: 57 (Sundeep Jora, Nepal vs Japan, 2026)
Best Bowling Figures: 4/8 (Arab Gul Momand, Afghanistan vs Japan, 2026)
IND vs SL Weather Forecast & Rain Threat at Korogi Sports Park
Nisshin is expected to remain warm with partly cloudy skies during the India vs Sri Lanka semi-final on October 1. Rain remains a concern after the recent quarter-final washouts at Korogi Sports Park.
Both teams will need to keep the possibility of interruptions in mind. With rain already affecting the knockout stage, the weather could again play a role in the semi-final. India and Sri Lanka will hope for enough clear conditions to complete the game.
IND vs SL Team News & Injury Updates
India will bring back Jasprit Bumrah after he was rested for the rain-affected five-over match against Japan. He is expected to join Arshdeep Singh in the pace attack. Sri Lanka have no major injury concerns.
IND vs SL Predicted Playing 11 Today
India Predicted Playing XI: 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 Predicted Playing XI: Sahan Arachchige (c), Niroshan Dickwella (wk), Lasith Croospulle, Nuwanidu Fernando, Ashen Bandara, Chamika Karunaratne, Dushan Hemantha, Tharindu Ratnayake, Binura Fernando, Vijaykanth Viyaskanth, Nuwan Thushara.
IND vs SL Key Player Battles to Watch
Abhishek Sharma vs Nuwan Thushara:
Abhishek Sharma smashed 108 off 34 balls against Afghanistan. Nuwan Thushara will look to attack the stumps and restrict Abhishek during the powerplay.
Sanju Samson vs Chamika Karunaratne:
Sanju Samson scored two half-centuries against Afghanistan and will look to maintain his form at the top. Chamika Karunaratne can vary his pace and use the slower pitch to trouble the Indian batter.
Niroshan Dickwella vs Jasprit Bumrah
Niroshan Dickwella is an aggressive batter who can put pressure on bowlers with his strokeplay. Jasprit Bumrah has the ability to attack the stumps with his pace and accuracy.
IND vs SL Key Players to Watch
India: Abhishek Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah, Sanju Samson
Sri Lanka: Nuwan Thushara, Niroshan Dickwella, Chamika Karunaratne
Also read: T20 Blast: ECB begins search for new sponsor after Vitality ends title partnership
