India set up a gold-medal clash with Pakistan after a dominant 124-run win over Sri LankaNew Delhi
The Indian men's cricket team has booked its place in the Asian Games 2026 final, defeating Sri Lanka by 124 runs in the semifinal. India will now face Pakistan in the gold-medal match on October 3 as it looks to retain the title it won at the previous Asian Games.India's men's team has reached the Asian Games final for the first time on the field. At the previous edition, the gold-medal match against Afghanistan was abandoned due to rain, with India awarded the gold medal on the basis of its higher T20 ranking.The upcoming final will also mark the first-ever India-Pakistan men's cricket final at the Asian Games. Pakistan reached the final after defeating Bangladesh by six wickets in the rain-affected semifinal.India will enter the contest with a strong recent record against Pakistan in T20 internationals. According to the supplied match record, the two sides have met 17 times, with India winning 13 matches, Pakistan winning three and one match ending in a tie, which India won via the subsequent decider.The two teams last met in the 2026 T20 World Cup, where India registered a 61-run victory. The Asian Games final will therefore provide another high-profile meeting between the two sides.India's dominant semifinal performanceIndia produced an impressive all-round display against Sri Lanka. Batting first, India scored 169/7 in 20 overs, with Ishan Kishan leading the innings with an unbeaten 80 off 46 balls. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi contributed 38 off 21 balls.Sri Lanka's chase then collapsed rapidly. The team was bowled out for just 45 in 9.5 overs, handing India a 124-run victory. Jasprit Bumrah, Axar Patel and Abhishek Sharma were among India's key performers with the ball.With the gold medal now at stake, India and Pakistan will meet at the Asian Games for the first time in men's cricket on October 3.
