India’s victory over Sri Lanka in the second semifinal has set up a highly anticipated India-Pakistan clash for the gold medal in the men’s cricket tournament.
Pakistan secured their spot in the final after defeating Bangladesh in a rain-affected first semifinal. Chasing a revised target of 111, Pakistan reached the mark in just 11.3 overs.
Led by Sahibzada Farhan, Pakistan’s side features several players who are different from the country’s regular senior T20I squad. They are now just one victory away from winning the tournament, having exceeded expectations to reach the gold medal match.
India, meanwhile, has also enjoyed an impressive run. They advanced from the quarterfinals against Afghanistan without needing to bowl, before producing a dominant performance against Sri Lanka in the semifinal.
Ishan Kishan led India’s batting effort with an unbeaten 80 off 46 balls as India posted 169/7. The second innings then turned into a one-sided affair, with India’s bowlers dismantling Sri Lanka’s batting lineup.
Sri Lanka slipped to 33/6 during the powerplay and were eventually bowled out for just 45, handing India a massive 124-run victory and a place in the final.
With both teams now set to meet for gold, the India-Pakistan final promises a high-profile contest, with Pakistan also looking to make amends against their familiar rivals.
