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Asian Games 2026: 3 bowlers to watch in India vs Sri Lanka semi-final

Top-seeded India faces a second-string Sri Lanka side in the second semi-final of the men's cricket tournament at the Asian Games 2026. The match takes place on Thursday, October 1, at Korogi Sports Park located in Nisshin, Japan, following a period of rainy weather in the Aichi-Nagoya region that is expected to clear up.

Shreyas Iyer leads the full-strength Indian squad as the team's captain, while Sahan Arachchige serves as the skipper for Sri Lanka. Three specific bowlers have been identified as crucial factors for the upcoming knockout fixture due to their skills and the expected pitch conditions.

Jasprit Bumrah anchors India's pace attack as a marquee seamer who can exploit early swing against an inexperienced opposing batting order. Nuwan Thushara offers experienced seam bowling for Sri Lanka, bringing previous Indian Premier League experience from stints with the Mumbai Indians and Royal Challengers Bengaluru alongside his international record.

Axar Patel provides an all-round spin option for India on a venue where slow bowlers have consistently dominated the wicket-taking statistics. If weather conditions prevent a completion or a Super Over, India stands to advance to the final automatically as the higher-ranked side.

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