India’s dominant semifinal win books a high-profile Asian Games final against arch-rivals Pakistan on October 3.

India booked their place in the Asian Games Men’s T20I gold-medal match with a dominant 124-run victory over Sri Lanka, producing a commanding performance to set up a highly anticipated final against Pakistan on Saturday, October 3.

India had to overcome early difficulties with the bat before posting a competitive 169/7. Ishan Kishan played the decisive innings, remaining unbeaten on 80 from 46 deliveries to guide his team through a challenging phase and provide a strong finish.

The Indian innings was under pressure after Sri Lanka’s spinners made effective use of the surface. India slipped to 125/6 before Kishan took control during the closing stages. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi also contributed with an aggressive 38, helping India add valuable runs late in the innings.

Sri Lanka’s response, however, quickly turned into a one-sided contest. India’s bowling attack dismantled the chase, with Sri Lanka being dismissed for only 45 runs.

Jasprit Bumrah made an immediate impact by taking two wickets in the opening over, putting Sri Lanka under severe pressure from the outset. Axar Patel also claimed two wickets, while Abhishek Sharma and Washington Sundar played their part in restricting the opposition batting lineup.

Sri Lanka struggled throughout the chase as the pitch offered turn, bounce and inconsistent pace. Nuwanidu Fernando was the only Sri Lankan batter to move beyond double figures as wickets continued to fall at regular intervals.

The emphatic win sends India into the Asian Games gold-medal contest against Pakistan. The final will take place on Saturday, October 3, with India aiming to retain the gold medal secured in the previous edition.

Sri Lanka will now compete against Bangladesh for the bronze medal on the same day.

The India-Pakistan final is scheduled to start at 10:00am IST, corresponding to 4:30am GMT, in what promises to be a major Asian Games cricket encounter.