India to Face Pakistan in Asian Games Cricket Final After Defeating Sri Lanka
India defeated Sri Lanka by 124 runs in the semi-finals to advance to the Asian Games cricket final against Pakistan on Saturday.
India's cricket team has advanced to the Asian Games final against Pakistan, setting up a high-stakes match between the arch-rivals. The tournament has also delivered notable individual successes for India, with Sunil Kumar securing a bronze medal in Men's Greco-Roman 87kg wrestling and Neeru Dhanda winning a historic gold in Women's Trap shooting, both earning congratulations from the Prime Minister. These achievements come amid the 11th Ayurveda Day celebrations, which saw massive participation across the country.
India's men's cricket team will face Pakistan in the Asian Games final on Saturday after a 124-run demolition of Sri Lanka in Thursday's semi-final at Korogi Athletic Park in Nisshin, Japan. The match, scheduled for 1:30 p.m. local time at Korogi Sports Park, will be the first meeting between the arch-rivals at the continental multi-sport event and comes amid renewed political tensions that have seen players refuse the customary post-match handshake in recent encounters (Google News India).
Defending champions India were put in to bat on a sharply turning pitch and recovered from early losses to post 169 for seven in their 20 overs. Teenager Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, 15, announced himself on the big stage with a whirlwind 38 off 21 balls, smashing six fours and two sixes before falling to a thick edge at backward point. "He is an amazing talent," said Sri Lanka coach Ashan Priyanjan (Google News India). Ishan Kishan then anchored the innings with a crafted 80 not out off 46 balls, including five sixes, to give the total a competitive shape (Google News India).
Sri Lanka's chase collapsed in spectacular fashion. Jasprit Bumrah struck twice in the first five balls, trapping Sineth Jayawardena lbw for a duck and having Sohan de Livera caught behind for nought. A panicked run-out of Lasith Croospulle left the batting side at three for two. Two further run-outs and a spell of 2-2 in five balls from left-arm spinner Abhishek Sharma saw Sri Lanka bundled out for 45 in 9.5 overs, their lowest total in men's T20 internationals (Google News India).
Pakistan had reached the final earlier in the day with a six-wicket win over Bangladesh in a rain-reduced 13-over semi-final. Chasing 112, they finished with nine balls to spare, Abdul Samad blasting an unbeaten 30 off 15 balls. "All we care about is winning the final, no matter who we are playing against," said Pakistan batter Saim Ayub (Google News India). Both semi-finalists had advanced without playing a quarter-final, their last-eight matches abandoned due to rain and decided by higher seeding.
The cricket final caps a productive Day 12 for India across disciplines. Archers delivered a golden sweep: Kushal Dalal, Sahil Jadhav and Ganesh Mani Ratnam Thirumuru edged China 238-237 in the compound men's team final for the country's 10th gold; Chikitha Taniparti, Prithika Pradeep and Jyothi Surekha Vennam equalled the world record in the women's team event before Taniparti paired with Sahil to win the mixed team gold; and in shooting, Kynan Chenai and Neeru Dhanda broke the Asian Games record to take the trap mixed team title (The Hindu).
Dhanda's gold, her second of the Games after the individual women's trap title, drew a congratulatory message from the Prime Minister, as did Sunil Kumar's bronze in men's Greco-Roman 87kg wrestling (PIB). Kumar opened India's wrestling account with victory in his bronze-medal bout, while Kapil Pokhariya added a bronze in the men's 90kg freestyle after losing 1-4 to world champion Turabek Khabibullaev. In boxing, Priya Ghanghas settled for bronze in the women's 60kg category after a 1-4 points loss (The Hindu).
India sits eighth in the overall medal standings with 60 medals — 10 gold, 21 silver and 29 bronze — as the Games enter their final stretch (The Hindu). Friday brings a heavy schedule: the women's hockey team faces defending champions China for gold and an automatic Paris 2028 Olympic berth, while Lovlina Borgohain, Parveen Hooda and Ankush Panghal contest boxing finals. Recurve archers have three team medal events, and wrestlers begin fresh campaigns across four weight categories (Google News India).
The cricket final carries significance beyond the medal. With the sport pushing for inclusion at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics, a high-profile India-Pakistan decider offers a showcase for the format's global appeal. Weather remains a variable: six matches in the tournament have already been abandoned, and under Asian Games rules a washout in the final would result in a shared gold medal (Google News India).
AP India·Indian Express·PIB·The Hindu