India Retain Asian Games Cricket Gold, Defeat Pakistan by 19 Runs in Final

Srinagar, Oct 03: India retained the men’s cricket gold medal at the 2026 Asian Games, defeating Pakistan by 19 runs in a thrilling final at Korogi Sports Park in Nisshin, Japan.

India, after winning the toss and opting to bat, posted 211 for six in their allotted 20 overs. Pakistan fought back strongly in the chase but finished on 192 for six, falling short of the 212-run target.

The result gives India consecutive Asian Games men’s cricket gold medals, after their triumph at the 2023 Hangzhou Games. India entered the final as defending champions, while Pakistan were seeking their first men’s cricket gold at the continental event.

India’s innings was powered by a blistering 61 from 28 balls by Abhishek Sharma. The left-hander provided the early acceleration before Pakistan’s bowlers managed to pull the scoring rate back through the middle overs.

Tilak Varma then produced a decisive late assault, smashing an unbeaten 51 from only 22 deliveries. Shivam Dube added 27 from 15 balls, and the pair’s late hitting helped India cross the 200-mark and finish on 211/6. Earlier reports from the innings had highlighted India’s strong finish after they were 151/7 with one over remaining.

Pakistan’s response was led almost single-handedly by Hasan Nawaz, who produced a sensational 96 from 51 balls. His innings contained five fours and seven sixes and kept Pakistan in contention until the final over.

Pakistan entered the last over at 181/6 and required 31 runs for victory. Nawaz continued to attack, striking a six and then finding two runs, but the chase ended with the final ball of the innings. Dube bowled a slower bouncer that Nawaz nicked behind, with wicketkeeper Sanju Samson completing the catch.

Dube finished with two wickets for 33 runs from three overs, while Jasprit Bumrah completed his four-over spell without a wicket, conceding 33 runs.

Pakistan’s 192/6 meant India had successfully defended their total by 19 runs.

The two teams had reached the final unbeaten. India advanced to the semi-finals after their quarter-final against Afghanistan was washed out, progressing on the basis of their higher ICC T20I ranking, before crushing Sri Lanka by 124 runs in the semi-final. Pakistan similarly progressed from a rain-abandoned quarter-final against Hong Kong and then defeated Bangladesh by six wickets in a rain-reduced semi-final.

India’s victory also completes a golden sweep in cricket at the 2026 Asian Games, with the Indian women’s team having earlier secured the women’s gold medal.