India and Sri Lanka will face each other in the second semifinal of the Men’s Asian Games 2026 at Korogi Sports Park, Nisshin, on Thursday, October 1. India enter the contest as the top-seeded team after their quarterfinal against Afghanistan was washed out, while Sri Lanka will look to produce a strong performance with their second-string squad.
Shreyas Iyer will lead a strong Indian side featuring several players who were part of India’s 2026 T20 World Cup-winning campaign. India will look to make their experience count and secure a place in the gold-medal match.
Sri Lanka, meanwhile, have named Sahan Arachchige as captain. With several experienced first-choice players unavailable, the Sri Lankan players will need to perform above expectations against a strong Indian lineup.
IND vs SL: Match details
| Match | Details |
|---|---|
| Match | India vs Sri Lanka, Semifinal 2 |
| Tournament | Men’s Asian Games 2026 |
| Date | Thursday, October 1, 2026 |
| Time | 10:00 AM IST, 9:30 AM PST |
| Venue | Korogi Sports Park, Nisshin |
| Live streaming | SonyLIV |
| TV broadcast | Sony Sports Network |
Korogi Sports Park, Nisshin: Pitch report
The Korogi Sports Park surface is expected to assist spinners, while slower deliveries from the pacers could also prove effective if the pitch offers enough grip. Batting could become more challenging as the innings progresses, making the powerplay an important period for both teams.
The conditions could therefore make shot selection and strike rotation particularly important, especially against the spinners in the middle overs.
IND vs SL: Head-to-head record in T20Is
| Record | Details |
|---|---|
| Matches played | 33 |
| India won | 23 |
| Sri Lanka won | 9 |
| No result | 1 |
| First fixture | February 10, 2009 |
| Most recent fixture | September 26, 2025 |
India have the stronger overall record in T20I meetings between the two sides, although Sri Lanka will hope their current squad can produce a different result in this semifinal.
IND vs SL: Predicted playing XIs
India
Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson (WK), Ishan Kishan, Shreyas Iyer (C), Tilak Varma, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, Ravi Bishnoi.
Sri Lanka
Niroshan Dickwella (WK), Lasith Croospulle, Nuwanidu Fernando, Ashen Bandara, Sahan Arachchige (C), Sineth Jayawardena, Chamika Karunaratne, Dushan Hemantha, Vijayakanth Viyaskanth, Nuwan Thushara, Binura Fernando.
IND vs SL: Probable best performers
Probable best batter: Abhishek Sharma
Abhishek Sharma could be an important player for India at the top of the order. His aggressive approach during the powerplay can put pressure on the Sri Lankan bowlers early and give India a strong platform.
Probable best bowler: Jasprit Bumrah
Jasprit Bumrah will be one of India’s biggest threats with the ball. His experience and variations can make life difficult for Sri Lanka’s relatively inexperienced batting unit, both with the new ball and during the later stages of the innings.
IND vs SL: Match prediction
India head into the semifinal with a strong squad and considerable experience across their playing XI. Sri Lanka will need a disciplined bowling effort and significant contributions from their key batters to challenge the top-seeded side.
The spin-friendly conditions could keep the contest competitive, but India’s greater experience gives them a clear advantage heading into the semifinal.
Prediction: India to win the match and reach the Asian Games final.
