Nisshin, Japan: Defending champions India will face Sri Lanka in the second semi-final of the men’s cricket competition at the Asian Games 2026 on Thursday, October 1. The match will be played at Korogi Sports Park in Nisshin, Japan, with a place in the gold-medal match at stake. Indian cricket fans can watch the match live on television and online through the official broadcast platforms.
India entered the semi-finals after their quarter-final against Afghanistan was abandoned without a ball being bowled because of rain. Sri Lanka also progressed to the last four after their quarter-final against Nepal was washed out. With both matches unable to take place, the higher-seeded teams advanced to the semi-finals.
The India-Sri Lanka clash is therefore set to be the first proper competitive outing for the Indian men’s cricket team at the 2026 Asian Games after their quarter-final was abandoned. India are attempting to defend the gold medal they won at the previous edition of the Asian Games.
India vs Sri Lanka semi-final date and time
The India vs Sri Lanka Asian Games 2026 men’s cricket semi-final will be played on Thursday, October 1.
The match will begin at 10:00 AM IST, while the toss is scheduled for 9:30 AM IST. In Japan, the match is scheduled to start at 1:30 PM local time.
Match details
- Match: India vs Sri Lanka, second semi-final
- Tournament: Asian Games 2026 men’s cricket
- Date: October 1, 2026
- Start time: 10:00 AM IST
- Toss: 9:30 AM IST
- Venue: Korogi Sports Park, Nisshin, Japan
- Format: T20
- India captain: Shreyas Iyer
- Sri Lanka captain: Sahan Arachchige
Where to watch India vs Sri Lanka live on TV
The India vs Sri Lanka semi-final will be telecast live on the Star Sports Network in India.
Fans looking for a free television option can watch the match on DD Sports through DD Free Dish, according to the latest broadcast information provided by NDTV.
The broadcast details are subject to the information provided by the broadcaster, and viewers should check their local television listings for the relevant Star Sports channel carrying the match.
India vs Sri Lanka live streaming in India
The men’s Asian Games cricket matches will be available for live streaming on the JioHotstar app and website in India.
This means viewers who prefer watching the semi-final on smartphones, tablets, laptops or other supported devices can follow the match online through JioHotstar.
Earlier tournament information had listed other broadcast platforms, but the latest NDTV update dated October 1 states that the television broadcast will be available on Star Sports and DD Sports, while online streaming will be available through JioHotstar.
India aim to defend Asian Games cricket title
India are the defending men’s cricket champions at the Asian Games. The team won the gold medal at the previous edition and have arrived in Japan with a strong squad for the 2026 competition.
The Indian squad is led by Shreyas Iyer and includes several players with international experience. Jasprit Bumrah, Ishan Kishan, Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson, Tilak Varma, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel and Washington Sundar are among the players named in the squad. Ravi Bishnoi, Arshdeep Singh and Harshit Rana provide further bowling options, while teenage batter Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is also part of the group.
India’s quarter-final against Afghanistan was expected to provide the team with its first match of the competition, but persistent rain prevented any play. The washout meant India progressed to the semi-finals based on its higher seeding.
Sri Lanka enter semi-final after rain-hit quarter-final
Sri Lanka’s route to the semi-finals was similar. Their quarter-final against Nepal was also abandoned because of rain, allowing the higher-ranked Sri Lankan side to advance without playing the match.
Sri Lanka are being led by Sahan Arachchige, who has limited international experience compared with several members of India’s squad. The Sri Lankan squad includes Niroshan Dickwella, Ashen Bandara, Lasith Croospulle, Nuwanidu Fernando, Chamika Karunaratne, Dushan Hemantha, Vijayakanth Viyaskanth and Nuwan Thushara.
The semi-final will therefore be an important test for both teams, particularly after their respective quarter-finals were decided without any competitive action.
Pakistan and Bangladesh meet in other semi-final
The other men’s cricket semi-final will feature Pakistan and Bangladesh. That match is scheduled to take place earlier on October 1, with the first semi-final beginning at 5:30 AM IST.
The winners of the two semi-finals will advance to the gold-medal match, while the losing teams will compete for the bronze medal. India will be hoping to secure a place in the final and continue its bid to retain the Asian Games men’s cricket title.
For viewers in India, the key details are therefore straightforward: India vs Sri Lanka begins at 10:00 AM IST on October 1, the live television broadcast is available on Star Sports and DD Sports, and online streaming is available on JioHotstar.