Asian Games: History of the India Vs. Sri Lanka bowled out the opposition for the first time for a total below 50 in a T20I

Jasprit Bumrah, centre, celebrates with Axar Patel (right) and Washington Sundar after taking the wicket of Sineth Jayawardene of Sri Lanka during the second semi-final between India and Sri Lanka at the 20th Asian Games in Nisshin, Japan. (PTI) India beat Sri Lanka for 45 in the men’s cricket semi-final at the Asian Games in Nisshin, Japan on Thursday. The defending champions won by 124 runs to set up a gold medal clash with Pakistan.Sri Lanka’s 45 is also the joint-lowest T20I total by a Test-playing nation. West Indies were dismissed by England in 2019 for the same score.The 45 all out was India’s first time in a T20I that an opposition side had taken below 50. Their previous lowest total scored was 57 for 10, achieved by the United Arab Emirates in Dubai on 10 September 2025.Sri Lanka’s collapse began in the powerplay when they slumped to 31 for six chasing India’s 170-run target. Jasprit Bumrah struck twice in his innings before Axar Patel also picked up two wickets.India needed just 9.5 overs to win, with two run-outs adding to Sri Lanka’s problems as the batsmen struggled at the turns.Earlier, Ishan Kishan’s 46-ball 80 and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s 38 off 21 balls helped India post 169 for seven in 20 overs after Sri Lanka won the toss and opted to bowl.“We have to perform both in batting and bowling to win. We waited for a few days, there was a lot of rain around. To turn on and perform like this after a long break is commendable,” Axar said after the match, referring to the quarter-final against Afghanistan and the cancellation of training due to the weather in Japan.India’s win also guaranteed them a medal in the men’s cricket competition. They will face arch-rivals Pakistan in Saturday’s gold medal match.Sri Lanka will face Bangladesh in the bronze medal match. Bangladesh lost to Pakistan that day.Both the bronze medal match and the final are played on Saturday.