Archive · 1 Oct 2026
Ishan Kishan’s 80 Guides India Through Tricky Asian Games Semifinal
Ishan Kishan helped India win a cricket semifinal against Sri Lanka.
He scored 80 runs without getting out.
The pitch was difficult because rain and sunshine caused cracks in the ground.
The ball bounced unevenly and spun sharply.
Kishan said he was not very confident at first.
India’s plan was for one batter to stay in and score carefully.
India made 169 runs, which was much more than Sri Lanka’s reported 45.
India will now play Pakistan for the gold medal.
Kishan also said people in Japan were kind and helpful.
Ishan Kishan scored an unbeaten 80 from 46 balls in India’s Asian Games semifinal against Sri Lanka.
Rain-related moisture, sunshine and surface cracks created uneven bounce and significant turn at Korogi Athletic Park.
Kishan said he lacked confidence initially but followed India’s plan for one set batter to bat through the innings.
India reached 169, surpassing Kishan’s target of about 150 and comfortably exceeding Sri Lanka’s reported total of 45.
India advanced to the gold-medal match against Pakistan, with Kishan praising Japanese locals and saying he would return with his family.
- Who
- Ishan Kishan and the Indian cricket team played Sri Lanka in the Asian Games semifinal.
- What
- India won the semifinal, with Kishan scoring an unbeaten 80 off 46 balls and India making 169 runs.
- When
- The match and Kishan’s comments were reported on October 1, after the Thursday semifinal.
- Where
- The match was played at Korogi Athletic Park in Nisshin, Japan.
- Why
- India needed to manage a difficult, spin-friendly pitch and win to reach the Asian Games gold-medal match against Pakistan.
- Top scorer
- Ishan Kishan: unbeaten 80 off 46 balls
- India’s score
- 169 runs
- Sri Lanka’s reported score
- 45 runs
- Match stage
- Asian Games semifinal
- Next opponent
- Pakistan in the gold-medal match
- Pitch conditions
- Cracks, uneven bounce and square turn caused by rainfall and subsequent sunshine
- Kishan’s initial target
- About 150 runs for a safer total