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Ishan Kishan Hits Unbeaten Fifty As Netizens React To India’s 169/7 Against Sri Lanka
By CricShots - Oct 1, 2026 1:12 pm
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Ishan Kishan produced a crucial unbeaten 80 off 46 balls, while teenager Vaibhav Sooryavanshi provided India with an explosive start as the Men in Blue posted 169/7 against Sri Lanka in the second semi-final of the Asian Games in Nisshin on Thursday. India made a calculated selection change for the spin-friendly conditions, bringing Sooryavanshi back into the playing XI alongside Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson. Left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh was left out, leaving Jasprit Bumrah as India’s only specialist fast-bowling option.

Ishan Kishan
Ishan Kishan scored a match-winning-fifty

Sri Lanka adopted a similar strategy after choosing to bowl first. Their second-string attack relied heavily on spin and managed to create problems for India’s batters throughout the innings. With the ball turning significantly during the powerplay, it quickly became clear that spinners would play a major role. Sri Lanka used only two overs of pace during the initial six overs, with their spinners controlling the middle of the pitch.

Abhishek Sharma made an explosive start, scoring seven runs from just three deliveries. He smashed Sri Lankan captain Sahan Arachchige for a straight six but fell while attempting to create room for another attacking shot. The left-hander found a thick edge that travelled towards short third man, where the catch was comfortably completed.

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Sanju Samson also struggled to make an impact. The wicketkeeper-batter scored seven off nine balls before being dismissed by Tharindu Ratnayake. The ambidextrous spinner changed his angle and deceived Samson with a straighter delivery, which crashed into the stumps after the batter exposed them while attempting to create room.

Despite losing two early wickets, Sooryavanshi continued to attack the Sri Lankan bowlers with his trademark aggressive strokeplay. After three overs of spin, Binura Fernando was introduced into the attack in the fourth over. The 15-year-old immediately put pressure on the left-arm pacer, lifting a length delivery over mid-off before following it up with consecutive boundaries after Fernando bowled a low full toss.

Sooryavanshi then took on Ratnayake, using a reverse sweep before launching the spinner over long-on for a six. His most impressive shot came against Fernando when he pulled the pacer powerfully, helping India reach 58/2 at the end of the powerplay.

However, Sooryavanshi’s entertaining innings came to an end soon afterwards. Like Abhishek, he attempted to attack Arachchige but only managed to edge the ball towards short third man, where Sri Lanka completed another catch.

India subsequently lost captain Shreyas Iyer and Axar Patel during the middle overs, causing the scoring rate to slow down. Kishan then took responsibility and shifted the momentum back in India’s favour.

WATCH – Sahan Arachchige Takes Stunning One-Handed Catch To Dismiss Shivam Dube

Rather than relying heavily on horizontal-bat shots, Kishan targeted the spinners straight down the ground. Four of his six sixes came between long-on and long-off, while he also struck four boundaries during his unbeaten 80. His calculated aggression in the latter stages helped India recover from a difficult position and finish with a competitive 169/7 on a turning surface.

 

 

 

 

 

Tags Asian GamesIshan KishannetizensNetizens reactionSmei-final