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Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has been recalled to India's Playing XI for their Asian Games 2026 semi-final against Sri Lanka. The young batter missed India's previous clash against Japan but returns as India prepare for a place in the final.
India are facing Sri Lanka in the second semi-final at Korogi Sports Park in Nisshin, Japan, on Thursday, October 1. The match is scheduled to begin at 1:30 PM local time, with the action starting at 10:00 AM IST.
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi missed the Japan clash that India nearly lost
Vaibhav was not part of India's Playing XI when they faced Japan in a historic match. Despite being the stronger side on paper, India were pushed all the way by Japan in a five-over-per-side contest.
India, batting first after winning the toss, managed 32/4 in their five overs. Shreyas Iyer top-scored with an unbeaten 16 off 12 balls, while Sanju Samson contributed nine off seven. Tilak Varma remained unbeaten on one, with Abhishek Sharma dismissed for a duck and Ishan Kishan scoring three.
Japan then came close to chasing down the target. Kandel Kadowaki-Fleming scored 12 off 12 balls, while Ibrahim Takahashi made four off three. India eventually restricted Japan to 30/3 in five overs to win by just two runs.
Washington Sundar was India's most successful bowler, taking two wickets for 13 runs from his two overs, while Axar Patel conceded seven runs in two overs.
Meanwhile, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has made an immediate impact in international cricket despite having only a handful of matches at this level. The left-handed batter has played six T20Is for India, scoring 193 runs in six innings at an average of 32.16 and a remarkable strike rate of 189.21. His highest score is 81, while he has also registered two half-centuries.
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has shown his ability to score quickly at the top of the order and has already provided India with attacking starts. His return to the Playing XI gives India another aggressive batting option for the semi-final against Sri Lanka.
India Playing XI vs Sri Lanka Playing XI
India (Playing XI): Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson(w), Shreyas Iyer(c), Ishan Kishan, Tilak Varma, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Ravi Bishnoi, Jasprit Bumrah
Sri Lanka (Playing XI): Lasith Croospulle, Sineth Jayawardena, Sohan de Livera(w), Ashen Bandara, Sahan Arachchige(c), Nuwanidu Fernando, Chamika Karunaratne, Wanuja Sahan, Vijayakanth Viyaskanth, Tharindu Ratnayake, Binura Fernando
Sanju Samson speaks on India's aim of winning a gold medal at the Asian Games
India wicketkeeper-batter Sanju Samson has highlighted the team's focus on finishing the Asian Games campaign with a gold medal. With India now into the semi-finals, Samson said the players will give their maximum effort in the remaining matches.
Asked about India's aim of winning the gold medal, Samson said: “We will try our maximum. Whatever we can do, we will try our maximum.”
Samson was also asked about India's growth and strength in cricket over the years. He credited the country's overall cricketing structure, while pointing to both the Indian Premier League and domestic cricket as important contributors.
“I think it's all over the internet. It's a known fact nowadays how strong Indian cricket has grown over the last so many years. So I think there has been some constant effort.”
He further acknowledged the role of the IPL but stressed that India's domestic system has also played an important part in producing players and strengthening the game.
“Definitely IPL plays a huge role, but I feel our domestic cricket is also playing a huge role actually.”
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