India beats Sri Lanka to reach Asian Games cricket final

India bowled Sri Lanka out for 45 in the Asian Games men's cricket semifinal in Nisshin, Japan, on Thursday.

The defending champions went on to win by 124 runs and set up a gold medal clash with Pakistan.

Sri Lanka's 45 is also the joint-lowest T20I total by a Test-playing nation. West Indies were dismissed for the same score by England in 2019.

The 45 all out was India's first time bowling an opposition side out for under 50 in T20Is. Their previous lowest total conceded was 57 for 10, scored by the United Arab Emirates in Dubai on September 10, 2025.

Sri Lanka's collapse began in the powerplay, when they slipped to 31 for six while chasing India's 170-run target. Jasprit Bumrah struck twice in his opening over before Axar Patel also picked up two wickets.

India needed only 9.5 overs to complete the win, with two run-outs adding to Sri Lanka's problems as the batters struggled on a turning track.

Earlier, Ishan Kishan's calculated 46-ball 80 and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's 38 off 21 balls helped India post 169 for seven in 20 overs after Sri Lanka won the toss and opted to bowl.

"We have to perform in both batting and bowling to win. We've been waiting for some days, there was a lot of rain around. To switch on and perform like this after a long break is commendable," Axar said after the match, referring to the washed-out quarterfinal against Afghanistan and the cancellation of practice sessions due to the weather in Japan.

India's win also guaranteed them a medal in the men's cricket competition. They will face arch-rivals Pakistan in the gold medal match on Saturday.

Sri Lanka will play Bangladesh in the bronze medal match. Bangladesh had lost to Pakistan earlier in the day. Both the bronze medal match and the final will be played on Saturday.