A dream final is on the cards at the Asian Games 2026 as Pakistan and India won their semi-finals in contrasting fashion to reach the men’s cricket gold-medal match on Saturday, October 3.
Defending champions India booked their place with a commanding 124-run victory over Sri Lanka at Korogi Sports Park. Batting first, India posted 169 for seven, led by an unbeaten 80 from Ishan Kishan off 46 balls, while teenager Vaibhav Sooryavanshi contributed 38 off 21.
India’s bowlers then ran riot. Jasprit Bumrah struck twice in the opening over, three run-outs piled on the pressure, and Sri Lanka collapsed to 45 all out in 9.5 overs. Abhishek Sharma picked up two wickets in five balls.
Earlier, Pakistan edged past Bangladesh by six wickets in a rain-reduced 13-over semi-final, chasing 112 with seven balls to spare behind Abdul Samad’s unbeaten 30 and Sufyan Moqim’s three for 26.
The final will be the first meeting between the two nations in men’s cricket at the Asian Games and gives India the chance to defend the title won in 2023, while Pakistan are guaranteed at least silver — their best result at the Games. Sri Lanka and Bangladesh will contest the bronze-medal match on the same day.
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