India's Asian Games 2026 men's cricket semi-final against Sri Lanka produced a special batting performance from two players with roots in Bihar.

Vaibhav Suryavanshi and Ishan Kishan took charge on a challenging Japanese pitch, scoring 128 of India's 169 runs between them. While Vaibhav provided the explosive start, Ishan stayed till the end to finish the innings in style.

Vaibhav Suryavanshi lays the foundation

Opening the innings alongside Abhishek Sharma, Vaibhav immediately looked comfortable despite the difficult conditions.

Abhishek was dismissed early, but the young left-hander continued attacking the Sri Lankan bowlers. He scored 38 runs from just 21 deliveries, hitting six fours and two sixes.

Vaibhav's aggressive approach gave India the momentum they needed during the powerplay. He was eventually dismissed as India's third wicket, but by then the scoreboard had reached 59 runs in 6.2 overs.

His quick innings provided the perfect platform for the middle order.

Ishan Kishan turns the platform into a big total

After Vaibhav's dismissal, Ishan Kishan took responsibility for carrying India's innings forward.

The left-hander played a more controlled but equally destructive innings, remaining unbeaten until the end. Ishan smashed 80 runs from just 46 balls, including five sixes and four fours.

His ability to find boundaries while keeping the scoreboard moving proved crucial on a pitch where several other Indian batters struggled.

Bihar's duo contributes 128 runs

India eventually finished with 169 runs for seven wickets in their 20 overs.

Vaibhav contributed 38 runs, while Ishan's unbeaten 80 took their combined contribution to 118 runs, according to the scores stated above. Their innings formed the backbone of India's batting effort.

The contrast between the two innings also worked perfectly: Vaibhav attacked early and created momentum, while Ishan converted that start into a substantial total.

Two left-handers, two different roles

Both players are left-handed explosive batters, but their contributions were different.

Vaibhav's role was to attack from the beginning and put pressure on the Sri Lankan bowlers. Ishan, meanwhile, had to consolidate after wickets fell and then accelerate towards the end.

Together, they ensured India had a competitive total despite the challenging conditions.

The performances of these two Bihar-born batters once again highlighted how crucial adaptability can be in international cricket, especially when conditions aren't ideal for stroke-making.