Rain stays away as India and Sri Lanka look for fair contest to enter final

Cricknation Update: Rain stays away as India and Sri Lanka look for fair contest to enter final The forecast is for a sunny, warm day in Nisshin; in case of another washout, India will enter the gold-medal round for being the higher-ranked team The three who matter: Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Jasprit Bumrah all smiles after dismissing Pat Cummins The three who matter: Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Jasprit Bumrah all smiles after dismissing Pat Cummins, India vs Australia, World Cup, Chennai, October 8, 2023 The smile of a champion – Mohammed Siraj picked up five wickets in a ten-ball period, India vs Sri Lanka, Asia Cup final, Colombo, September 17, 2023 Alyssa Healy poses with the trophy after Australia retained the Ashes, England vs Australia, 3rd ODI, Women’s Ashes, Taunton, July 18, 2023 Punjab Cricket Association Stadium, Chandigarh, Chandigarh hpens to be India’s first planned city and it does show, Uploaded on 27 November 2001.

After six abandoned matches, five of them without a toss, because of incessant rain – Shreyas Iyer called it a “torrential downpour” – in Nisshin, we might finally get some cricket again at the men’s Asian Games . The timing couldn’t have been better because the four remaining games will decide the positions on the podium. Pakistan and Bangladesh still don’t have a gold in this edition (as of Wednesday morning); Sri Lanka have just one; India have seven but that’s well behind the 28 they finished with in 2023.

India are the defending champions, and it will take a gargantuan effort from the second-string Sri Lanka side to throw them off their path. Even the full-strength Sri Lanka T20I side has not been able to score 150 of late, or win a match since June, and have only one win from their last ten attempts. The Sri Lanka squad that hasn’t played even a moment of cricket since landing in Jan has a ctain – Sahan Arachchige – with just one T20I to his name, which came back in the 2023 Asian Games, when they lost to Afghanistan.

The more recognisable names are Niroshan Dickwella and Ashen Bandara, who haven’t featured in a T20I since 2021 and 2023 respectively. There are six other players in that squad of 15 who have played fewer than ten T20Is each, and another four who are uncped. There’s also an ODIs series going on at home, and the ODI World Cup is just a year away.

But they chose to send the likes of Jasprit Bumrah, Shreyas Iyer and Ishan Kishan, among others, to Jan instead, which shows their commitment to the gold-medal cause. Rain or shine, Sri Lanka will have to sweat it out on Thursday to try and get the better of India. India WWWWW (last five completed games, most recent first) Sri Lanka LLLLW India have been plagued by injuries of late and one of the names on that list was that of Washington Sundar , who returned to action in the Jan T20I last week.

He didn’t get to bat, but bowled two overs and took two wickets in his first game in two months. India would want to give him more game time before he heads back home for the West Indies T20Is that start on October 6. Washington has otherwise had an impressive year across formats with an unbeaten 52 in an ODI to give India their first win of their UK tour after he took a four-for in the Test against Afghanistan , in which he also scored 52*.

Niroshan Dickwella last played a T20I in 2021 and he is back in the scheme of things despite an underwhelming Lanka Premier League a couple of months ago, where he scored only 110 runs in six innings at a strike rate of 142.85 while averaging 18.33. He has, however, been among the runs of late, and scored a brisk 80 off 115 balls in the first Test against India. If he gets to bat on Tuesday, this could be a great chance for Dickwella to show why he was once an all-format regular for Sri Lanka.

India had rested Bumrah for the one-off T20I against Jan and played Arshdeep Singh and Yash Thakur as the quicks, and Ravi Bishnoi, Axar Patel and Washington as the lead spinners. India will now have to decide whom to leave out for Bumrah. The other question will be whether to give Vaibhav Sooryavanshi a game, although neither Abhishek Sharma nor Sanju Samson have any reason to be dropped.

India (possible): 1 Abhishek Sharma, 2 Sanju Samson (wk), 3 Ishan Kishan, 4 Shreyas Iyer (ct), 5 Tilak Varma, 6 Axar Patel, 7 Shivam Dube, 8 Washington Sundar, 9 Ravi Bishnoi, 10 Yash Thakur/Arshdeep Singh, 11 Jasprit Bumrah Sri Lanka will be expected to hand out a few debut cs and give game time to some of the more inexperienced players. Sri Lanka (possible): 1 Niroshan Dickwella (wk), 2 Lasith Croospulle, 3 Sahan Arachchige (ct), 4 Nuwanidu Fernando, 5 Ashen Bandara, 6 Chamika Karunaratne, 7 Tharindu Ratnayake, 8 Wanuja Sahan, 9 Vijayakanth Viyaskanth, 10 Nuwan Thushara, 11 Binura Fernando After a spell of heavy rain in Nisshin, the sun was out in all its glory on Wednesday. The forecast for Thursday is “very warm with plenty of sunshine” according to AccuWeather and “mainly sunny” according to The Weather Channel, with temperatures expected to go up to 30 degrees Celsius and the humidity to be around 60%.

In case unexpected rain washes out this game too, India will go through to the final for being higher-ranked side. The forecast is for a sunny, warm day in Nisshin; in case of another washout, India will enter the gold-medal round for being the higher-ranked team Shreyas Iyer takes in the surroundings, Afghanistan vs India, Asian Games men’s quarter-finals, Nisshin, September 28, 2026 Carbon copy of the Abhishek dismissal! Sooryavanshi skips down the track and reaches for this one that’s a bit wider of off.

The grip and turn does the young man in, as he gets a thick outside edge that loops to short third, who holds on to this a couple of inches off the ground And now he’s gone! Abishek again looks to make room and smack this through the offside, but this one is not quite as full and it turns away. Abhishek plays down the wrong line and gets a thick edge that loops gently to short third Castled!

This was a brilliantly done from Tharindu, who sees Samson backing away again and fires this in much quicker and a touch fuller as well. It’s just too good for Samson, who is late on the stroke, and sees it crash into middle and leg Stunning! This was on a good length, and he’s absolutely bamboozled Iyer, who looks to play this on the front foot, but is beaten by some dip and grip off the surface.

Turns past the outside edge and crashes into off stump. SL keep chipping away Ishan Kishan brought up his fifty in 33 balls, India vs Sri Lanka, Asian Games men’s competition, semi-final, Nisshin, October 1, 2026 Ishan Kishan brought up a quick half-century, India vs Sri Lanka, Asian Games men’s competition, semi-final, Nisshin, October 1, 2026 Axar’s promotion doesn’t pay off. He went for a shackle-breaking slog sweep and the length ball took the top edge.

Croospulle raises his hands and walks towards the fielder in celebration Confident stumping peal. This looks close, leaning towards out personally. Yep, finger goes up after a replay.

That’s peak deceon in flight. Angled in, hit the fuller side of length to draw Tilak forward. He looked to nurdle it, likely towards mid-on.

Played down the wrong line, ball jumped past the edge with Tilak fully forward, the back toe just about on the ground. He tried to pull back, got on top of the line at best I feel Oh wow, that’s a catch! Not sure how, thought it was four through cover.

Not if Arachchige could help it. Flew across to the right, reached out fully and took it, probably one handed. Dube, who had nailed the drive, in disbelief India’s playing XI lines up for the national anthem, India vs Sri Lanka, Asian Games men’s competition, semi-final, Nisshin, October 1, 2026 Castled!

This was a brilliantly done from Tharindu, who sees Samson backing away again and fires this in much quicker and a touch fuller as well. It’s just too good for Samson, who is late on the stroke, and sees it crash into middle and leg Oh wow, that’s a catch! Not sure how, thought it was four through cover.

Not if Arachchige could help it. Flew across to the right, reached out fully and took it, probably one handed. Dube, who had nailed the drive, in disbelief And now he’s gone!

Abishek again looks to make room and smack this through the offside, but this one is not quite as full and it turns away. Abhishek plays down the wrong line and gets a thick edge that loops gently to short third Carbon copy of the Abhishek dismissal! Sooryavanshi skips down the track and reaches for this one that’s a bit wider of off.

The grip and turn does the young man in, as he gets a thick outside edge that loops to short third, who holds on to this a couple of inches off the ground Stunning! This was on a good length, and he’s absolutely bamboozled Iyer, who looks to play this on the front foot, but is beaten by some dip and grip off the surface. Turns past the outside edge and crashes into off stump.

SL keep chipping away Axar’s promotion doesn’t pay off. He went for a shackle-breaking slog sweep and the length ball took the top edge. Croospulle raises his hands and walks towards the fielder in celebration Ishan Kishan brought up his fifty in 33 balls, India vs Sri Lanka, Asian Games men’s competition, semi-final, Nisshin, October 1, 2026 Ishan Kishan brought up a quick half-century, India vs Sri Lanka, Asian Games men’s competition, semi-final, Nisshin, October 1, 2026 Confident stumping peal.

This looks close, leaning towards out personally. Yep, finger goes up after a replay. That’s peak deceon in flight.

Angled in, hit the fuller side of length to draw Tilak forward. He looked to nurdle it, likely towards mid-on. Played down the wrong line, ball jumped past the edge with Tilak fully forward, the back toe just about on the ground.

He tried to pull back, got on top of the line at best I feel And now he’s gone! Abishek again looks to make room and smack this through the offside, but this one is not quite as full and it turns away. Abhishek plays down the wrong line and gets a thick edge that loops gently to short third Castled!

This was a brilliantly done from Tharindu, who sees Samson backing away again and fires this in much quicker and a touch fuller as well. It’s just too good for Samson, who is late on the stroke, and sees it crash into middle and leg Carbon copy of the Abhishek dismissal! Sooryavanshi skips down the track and reaches for this one that’s a bit wider of off.

This looks close, leaning towards out personally. Yep, finger goes up after a replay. That’s peak deceon in flight.

He tried to pull back, got on top of the line at best I feel Oh wow, that’s a catch! Not sure how, thought it was four through cover. Not if Arachchige could help it.

Flew across to the right, reached out fully and took it, probably one handed. Dube, who had nailed the drive, in disbelief ‘Don’t let him settle’ shot ends up with Jayawardena toast. He went to middle and off and looked to pick-up hoick the ball.

It was on the fuller side of length around middle and off, decked in and skidded through to go under the cross-bat heave and hit the back leg. Very much a candidate for hitting middle of middle. Replay shows that didn’t hit a crack Jasprit Bumrah struck with the second ball of the innings, India vs Sri Lanka, Asian Games men’s competition, semi-final, Nisshin, October 1, 2026 Jasprit Bumrah picked up two wickets in the first over, India vs Sri Lanka, Asian Games men’s competition, semi-final, Nisshin, October 1, 2026 No urgency and Croospulle is gone!

Direct hit at the striker’s and the batter is well short. Was a length ball outside off that Nuwaindu defended late. Ball went to short third Axar Patel picked up two wickets in his second over, India vs Sri Lanka, Asian Games men’s competition, semi-final, Nisshin, October 1, 2026 Game of angles, game of Bumrah.

Slanted away, into a hard length around middle and off. Ball kept going away and Livera looked to defend it towards extra cover. Outside edge goes low and wide to the left of Samson.

Good catch, Bumrah joins his hands in celebration Second run out of the innings and it’s the only SL batter who’s shown any promise. Was his own fault, reverse swept it off a length and took right off. Ball went to short third, so it should’ve been the non-striker’s call.

Striker not in the frame when the bails were dislodged Swept to short 45. Axar picks up a wicket with defensive bowling. It was full, flat and on leg stump from around the wicket.

The sweep was on but the ball played tricks despite its length. Hit the bat high and just like that it’s four down SL are five down 22 balls into the innings! Bandara’s offence is neither a form of offence or defence.

Goes for the slog sweep after two sighters and skies a floater to deep square leg Nine down! This game is careening to a close! Beautifully bowled by Abhishek, who tosses it up but gets some late dip, which draws Chamika out for the drive and then beats him in the air and off the pitch, turning away.

The batter loses balance in the process, and it’s some fantastic glove work to whip off the bails. Chamika well short And there’s another! Sahan goes for the reverse sweep, but only manages to glove it straight to Abhishek at slip.

Sri Lanka losing a wicket an over here, eesh. This one is speeding to quick finish Third run out of the game! And India continue to be absolutely electric in the field!

This was dropped towards backward point and they think about a single, before Tharindu is belatedly turned back. Tilak Varma, however, is on this in a flash from backward point. Picks it up and throws down the non-striker’s stumps with precision.

Outstanding work as Sri Lanka lose their eighth. Chamika involved in another run out to boot Team hattrick to end the game! India win in an absolute blow out as Sri Lanka are bowled out for 45 in 9.5 overs!

This one skids through quicker with the arm, seam up, and it’s through Binura who is stuck on the crease. India win by 124 runs and set up a mouthwatering final clash with Pakistan! Jasprit Bumrah struck with the second ball of the innings, India vs Sri Lanka, Asian Games men’s competition, semi-final, Nisshin, October 1, 2026 Jasprit Bumrah picked up two wickets in the first over, India vs Sri Lanka, Asian Games men’s competition, semi-final, Nisshin, October 1, 2026 ‘Don’t let him settle’ shot ends up with Jayawardena toast.

He went to middle and off and looked to pick-up hoick the ball. It was on the fuller side of length around middle and off, decked in and skidded through to go under the cross-bat heave and hit the back leg. Very much a candidate for hitting middle of middle.

Replay shows that didn’t hit a crack Game of angles, game of Bumrah. Slanted away, into a hard length around middle and off. Ball kept going away and Livera looked to defend it towards extra cover.

Outside edge goes low and wide to the left of Samson. Good catch, Bumrah joins his hands in celebration Axar Patel picked up two wickets in his second over, India vs Sri Lanka, Asian Games men’s competition, semi-final, Nisshin, October 1, 2026 Swept to short 45. Axar picks up a wicket with defensive bowling.

It was full, flat and on leg stump from around the wicket. The sweep was on but the ball played tricks despite its length. Hit the bat high and just like that it’s four down SL are five down 22 balls into the innings!

Bandara’s offence is neither a form of offence or defence. Goes for the slog sweep after two sighters and skies a floater to deep square leg And there’s another! Sahan goes for the reverse sweep, but only manages to glove it straight to Abhishek at slip.

Sri Lanka losing a wicket an over here, eesh. This one is speeding to quick finish Nine down! This game is careening to a close!

Beautifully bowled by Abhishek, who tosses it up but gets some late dip, which draws Chamika out for the drive and then beats him in the air and off the pitch, turning away. The batter loses balance in the process, and it’s some fantastic glove work to whip off the bails. Chamika well short Team hattrick to end the game!

India win in an absolute blow out as Sri Lanka are bowled out for 45 in 9.5 overs! This one skids through quicker with the arm, seam up, and it’s through Binura who is stuck on the crease. India win by 124 runs and set up a mouthwatering final clash with Pakistan!

‘Don’t let him settle’ shot ends up with Jayawardena toast. He went to middle and off and looked to pick-up hoick the ball. It was on the fuller side of length around middle and off, decked in and skidded through to go under the cross-bat heave and hit the back leg.

Very much a candidate for hitting middle of middle. Replay shows that didn’t hit a crack Jasprit Bumrah struck with the second ball of the innings, India vs Sri Lanka, Asian Games men’s competition, semi-final, Nisshin, October 1, 2026 Jasprit Bumrah picked up two wickets in the first over, India vs Sri Lanka, Asian Games men’s competition, semi-final, Nisshin, October 1, 2026 Game of angles, game of Bumrah. Slanted away, into a hard length around middle and off.

Ball kept going away and Livera looked to defend it towards extra cover. Outside edge goes low and wide to the left of Samson. Good catch, Bumrah joins his hands in celebration No urgency and Croospulle is gone!

Axar picks up a wicket with defensive bowling. It was full, flat and on leg stump from around the wicket. The sweep was on but the ball played tricks despite its length.

Hit the bat high and just like that it’s four down SL are five down 22 balls into the innings! Bandara’s offence is neither a form of offence or defence. Goes for the slog sweep after two sighters and skies a floater to deep square leg Second run out of the innings and it’s the only SL batter who’s shown any promise.

Was his own fault, reverse swept it off a length and took right off. Ball went to short third, so it should’ve been the non-striker’s call. Striker not in the frame when the bails were dislodged And there’s another!

Sahan goes for the reverse sweep, but only manages to glove it straight to Abhishek at slip. Sri Lanka losing a wicket an over here, eesh. This one is speeding to quick finish Third run out of the game!

And India continue to be absolutely electric in the field! This was dropped towards backward point and they think about a single, before Tharindu is belatedly turned back. Tilak Varma, however, is on this in a flash from backward point.

Picks it up and throws down the non-striker’s stumps with precision. Outstanding work as Sri Lanka lose their eighth. Chamika involved in another run out to boot Nine down!

This game is careening to a close! Beautifully bowled by Abhishek, who tosses it up but gets some late dip, which draws Chamika out for the drive and then beats him in the air and off the pitch, turning away. The batter loses balance in the process, and it’s some fantastic glove work to whip off the bails.

Chamika well short Team hattrick to end the game! India win in an absolute blow out as Sri Lanka are bowled out for 45 in 9.5 overs! This one skids through quicker with the arm, seam up, and it’s through Binura who is stuck on the crease.

India win by 124 runs and set up a mouthwatering final clash with Pakistan! The result sets up the first India vs Pakistan final this year, with the Asian Games gold medal at stake Ishan Kishan brought up a quick half-century, India vs Sri Lanka, Asian Games men’s competition, semi-final, Nisshin, October 1, 2026 Both teams have picked spin-heavy bowling attacks with Jasprit Bumrah India’s only specialist fast bowler The forecast is for a sunny, warm day in Nisshin; in case of another washout, India will enter the gold-medal round for being the higher-ranked team Shreyas Iyer takes in the surroundings, Afghanistan vs India, Asian Games men’s quarter-finals, Nisshin, September 28, 2026 Rain has been a constant for the past few days, Afghanistan vs India, Asian Games men’s competition, Nisshin, September 27, 2026 Sanju Samson on playing in Aichi-Nagoya for the first time ahead of India’s Asian Games semi-final against Sri Lanka The result sets up the first India vs Pakistan final this year, with the Asian Games gold medal at stake Ishan Kishan brought up a quick half-century, India vs Sri Lanka, Asian Games men’s competition, semi-final, Nisshin, October 1, 2026 The forecast is for a sunny, warm day in Nisshin; in case of another washout, India will enter the gold-medal round for being the higher-ranked team Shreyas Iyer takes in the surroundings, Afghanistan vs India, Asian Games men’s quarter-finals, Nisshin, September 28, 2026 Asian Games (Men) 2026, IND vs SL 2nd Semi-Final Match Preview – Rain stays away as India and Sri Lanka look for fair contest to enter final Asian Games (Men) 2026 India vs Sri Lanka Match Preview: The forecast is for a sunny, warm day in Nisshin; in case of another washout, India will enter the gold-medal round for being the higher-ranked team The forecast is for a sunny, warm day in Nisshin; in case of another washout, India will enter the gold-medal round for being the higher-ranked team Will India change their opening combination to play Vaibhav Sooryavanshi? • BCCI Pakistan meet Bangladesh, India meet SL in semi-finals Dickwella in SL T20I squad for the first time since 2021 Iyer: ‘There is rain, but we can’t use that as an excuse’ Inside #TeamIndia’s gym session as we gear up for the #AsianGames semi-final pic.twitter.com/qquctRhINN Vishal Dikshit reported on India enter Asian Games final after Kishan and Bumrah ride roughshod over Sri Lanka India bring in Sooryavanshi; Sri Lanka hand three debuts and field Samson: ‘Small margins for error’ in T20 cricket