Asian Games 2026: Sahan Arachchige wins toss, elects to bowl first against Team India

Shreyas Iyer, Sahan Arachchige (Pic: X/@BCCI)

In the Asian Games 2026 semi-final match against Team India, Sri Lanka's skipper Sahan Arachchige has won the toss and elected to bowl first at the Aichi Prefectural Korogi Sports Park in Nisshin.

Team India's wicketkeeper-batsman Sanju Samson said, "[Focusing on winning the gold medal?] We will try our maximum. Whatever we can do, we will try our maximum. [On how India have gone from strength to strength in cricket] I think it's all over the internet. It's a known fact nowadays how strong Indian cricket has grown over the last so many years. So I think there has been some constant effort. Definitely IPL plays a huge role, but I feel our domestic cricket is also playing a huge role actually. We have been constantly making great efforts to go out and play all the domestic matches whenever we get a chance, and that's where we tend to develop a lot of talents also. So our grooming teams are really nicely placed - actually the Mushtaq Ali, the Vijay Hazare, the Ranji Trophy. The Under-19 (teams) are traveling abroad every season. A great amount of cricketers are coming from (there). So which is a great thing for our country, and we will keep doing our best".

He then expressed his views on Team India's superstar Virat Kohli's 86th international century in the first ODI match against the West Indies.

"Very, very fortunate to have someone like him. I think whenever he scores runs, whenever we come out to practice, or how to play a game of cricket for our country, or wherever he does, it's a great inspiration for people like us still playing the game in the Indian national team, and everyone playing alongside with him. I think definitely benefits the way he puts on the performances. So I'm very happy," added Samson.

Asian Games 2026, IND vs SL: Confirmed playing XIs

India: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson (WK), Ishan Kishan, Shreyas Iyer (C), Tilak Varma, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Ravi Bishnoi, Jasprit Bumrah.

Sri Lanka: Lasith Crosspulle, Sineth Jayawardena, Sohan de Livera (WK), Ashen Bandara, Sahan Arachchige (C), Nuwanidu Fernando, Chamika Karunaratne, Wanuja Sahan, Vijayakanth Viyaskanth, Tharindu Rathnayake, Binura Fernando.