Nisshin: India face Sri Lanka in the second semi-final of the men’s cricket competition at the 2026 Asian Games on Thursday, October 1, with both teams looking to secure a place in the gold medal match. The match is scheduled to begin at 10 am IST at Korogi Sports Park in Nisshin, Japan, with the toss at 9:30 am.
India, the defending Asian Games champions, enter the knockout clash with a full-strength T20I squad led by Shreyas Iyer. The Indian squad includes established international names such as Jasprit Bumrah, Ishan Kishan, Sanju Samson, Abhishek Sharma, Axar Patel and Arshdeep Singh, along with young players including Vaibhav Sooryavanshi.
The match has attracted particular attention because India have not played a complete match in the men’s cricket competition at the Games after rain disrupted their campaign. The Indian team’s quarter-final against Afghanistan was abandoned without a ball being bowled, with India progressing to the semi-finals by virtue of their higher ranking.
India vs Sri Lanka semi-final live score
The India-Sri Lanka semi-final is scheduled to start at 10 am IST. As of the latest update, the match had not yet begun.
The winner will advance to the men’s cricket gold medal match, while the losing team will have another opportunity to claim a bronze medal. India are aiming to retain the Asian Games men’s cricket title after winning gold at the previous edition.
The Indian team will be hoping its strong batting line-up can adapt quickly to the conditions in Nisshin. Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson, Ishan Kishan, Shreyas Iyer, Tilak Varma and Shivam Dube provide several batting options, while Axar Patel and Washington Sundar add all-round ability. The bowling attack includes Bumrah, Arshdeep, Ravi Bishnoi and Yash Thakur.
India enter semi-final after rain-hit quarter-final
India were originally scheduled to play Afghanistan in the quarter-final at Korogi Sports Park. However, persistent rain prevented any play and the match was abandoned without a ball being bowled.
The other men’s cricket quarter-finals were also affected by the weather. Sri Lanka similarly progressed after its quarter-final against Nepal was abandoned, with the higher-ranked sides advancing under the tournament regulations.
The repeated rain interruptions had raised concerns about whether the semi-final would also be affected. However, the latest NDTV update said the prevailing forecast suggested that India and Sri Lanka could play a full 20-over-a-side contest.
Sri Lanka look to challenge defending champions
Sri Lanka are led by Sahan Arachchige, who has limited international experience, while their squad also features players such as Niroshan Dickwella, Nuwan Thushara, Vijayakanth Viyaskanth and Chamika Karunaratne.
Unlike India, which has fielded a strong T20I squad, Sri Lanka have brought a relatively inexperienced side to the Asian Games. NDTV noted that Arachchige has played only one T20I for Sri Lanka. The team will therefore have to cope with the pressure of a knockout match against the defending champions.
Sri Lanka are also attempting to reach the Asian Games men’s cricket final for the first time in 12 years. The team will need to make the most of its opportunity after advancing from the quarter-final stage without playing because of the weather.
India vs Sri Lanka: Where to watch live
The second semi-final of the Asian Games men’s cricket competition will be played at Korogi Sports Park in Nisshin on October 1.
The match is scheduled to start at 10 am IST, with the toss at 9:30 am. The game will be available on the Star Sports Network, while free television coverage is also scheduled on DD Sports. Live streaming will be available through JioHotstar, according to broadcaster information cited by NDTV.
India’s semi-final is part of a busy day of Asian Games action. The other men’s cricket semi-final features Pakistan and Bangladesh, with the winners of the two semi-finals set to meet in the gold medal match.
India aim to book place in gold medal match
For India, the immediate target is a victory that would guarantee at least a silver medal. The team has entered the tournament with the objective of defending its Asian Games title, and a place in the final would take it one step closer to another gold medal.
The weather remains an important factor after several cricket matches at the Games were abandoned because of rain. However, the latest forecast cited by NDTV suggests that the India-Sri Lanka semi-final is expected to have conditions suitable for a full contest.
With Shreyas Iyer leading a squad containing several established T20 players, India will look to make the most of its first substantial knockout opportunity at the Games. Sri Lanka, meanwhile, will attempt to produce an upset and reach the final.
India vs Sri Lanka live score and updates will follow as the semi-final progresses at Korogi Sports Park, Nisshin.