Imagine waiting days for a cricket match, and the rain just keeps coming. That is what the Asian Games in Nisshin have felt like.
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Six matches have been called off, five without even a toss. All four quarter-finals were washed out, so India and Sri Lanka reached the semi-final without bowling a single ball.
Now, on Thursday, the sun is finally expected. And what a match it could be.
India are the defending champions and the best T20 team in the world. They have won 19 of their 27 games this year, and they have brought their big stars to Japan. Shreyas Iyer is the captain, and fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah is expected to return for this clash.
But India are not fully ready, either. They have played only 10 overs of real cricket in Japan, and that game against the host nation was a close call.
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Sri Lanka face a much harder road. They have won just five of 18 games this year, and only one of their last 10. Their captain, Sahan Arachchige, has played just one T20 international and now faces a harder proposition.
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India vs. Sri Lanka Asian Games Prediction: Who Will Win?
After the World Cup triumph, India showed some cracks with series losses to Ireland and England. But they bounced back with series sweeps over Zimbabwe and Afghanistan, and now they get Bumrah back. He is arguably the greatest T20 bowler going, and he gives India a big boost at any stage of a tournament.
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Sri Lanka have nothing to lose, and that can make a side play freely. But the gap in class is huge, and that makes India the favourites. They should live up to the billing and reach the final.
The Cricket News Prediction: India to win
India vs. Sri Lanka Asian Games: Team news and starting XIs
India predicted lineup against Sri Lanka
Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson (wk), Ishan Kishan, Shreyas Iyer (c), Tilak Varma, Axar Patel, Shivam Dube, Washington Sundar, Ravi Bishnoi, Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah
Sri Lanka predicted lineup against India
Niroshan Dickwella (wk), Lasith Croospulle, Sahan Arachchige (c), Nuwanidu Fernando, Ashen Bandara, Chamika Karunaratne, Tharindu Ratnayake, Wanuja Sahan, Vijayakanth Viyaskanth, Nuwan Thushara, Binura Fernando
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India vs. Sri Lanka Asian Games semifinal pitch report: Korogi Sports Park, Nisshin, Japan
Scoring Pattern
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