Aichi-Nagoya, 01 October (H.S.): India set a new world record in men’s T20 international cricket by defeating Sri Lanka by 124 runs in the semi-final of the cricket tournament at the Asian Games 2026. It was India’s 11th victory by a margin of 100 or more runs, the most such wins by any team in men’s T20I cricket.

India’s commanding victory was built around Ishan Kishan’s unbeaten 80 before Axar Patel, Jasprit Bumrah and Abhishek Sharma produced an outstanding bowling performance. Chasing India’s challenging total of 169 on a difficult pitch, Sri Lanka were bowled out for just 45 in 9.5 overs.

India’s 124-run victory also established a new record for the largest winning margin in a men’s T20 international semi-final or final. The previous record was also held by India, which defeated New Zealand by 96 runs in the 2026 T20 World Cup final in Ahmedabad.

Sri Lanka’s total of 45 is jointly the lowest all-out score by a full member nation against another Test-playing country in men’s T20 internationals. West Indies had previously recorded the same total against England in Basseterre in 2019.

Five Sri Lankan batters were dismissed without scoring. It is jointly the second-highest number of ducks recorded by a team in a T20I innings. Zimbabwe hold the record, with six batters dismissed for zero against West Indies in 2010.

The defeat was Sri Lanka’s second-largest in men’s T20 internationals. Their heaviest loss came in 2019, when they were beaten by Australia by 134 runs.

Sri Lanka won the toss and elected to bowl first. For India, 15-year-old Vaibhav Suryavanshi played an important cameo, scoring 38 from 21 balls with six fours and two sixes. Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson, however, were unable to make substantial contributions.

With India reduced to 87 for four, Ishan Kishan steadied the innings and accelerated towards the end. He remained unbeaten on 80 from 46 balls, striking four fours and five sixes, as India posted 169 for seven in 20 overs.

For Sri Lanka, Sahan Arachchige returned figures of 2/28, while Tharindu Rathnayake claimed 2/32.

Sri Lanka’s chase never gained momentum as wickets fell at regular intervals. Nuwanidu Fernando, who scored 15, was the only Sri Lankan batter to cross the 10-run mark.

India’s bowlers then completed a dominant performance. Axar Patel claimed 3/8, Jasprit Bumrah took 2/7, Abhishek Sharma returned 2/2 and Washington Sundar picked up 1/18 as Sri Lanka were dismissed for 45 in just 9.5 overs.

India’s emphatic victory secured its place in the gold-medal match of the Asian Games 2026.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar