India’s men’s cricket team have retained their Asian Games cricket gold men title with a commanding 19-run victory over Pakistan in the final at Korogi Sports Park, Nisshin (Nagoya), Japan.
Batting first after winning the toss, India posted 211/6 in 20 overs – their highest-ever T20 total against Pakistan – powered by explosive half-centuries from Abhishek Sharma (61 off 28) and Tilak Varma (51* off 22). Shivam Dube added a quick 27 off 14–15 balls, helping India surge from 165/4 to a 200-plus score with 46 runs in the last three overs.
In reply, Pakistan fought hard through Hasan Nawaz’s brilliant 96 off 51 balls, but regular wickets and tight bowling in the middle overs kept them behind the required rate. Pakistan finished at 192/6 in 20 overs, falling short by 19 runs as Dube dismissed Nawaz on the final delivery to seal the gold.
Key Moments That Decided The Final
- India’s powerplay and middle-overs acceleration set a daunting target, with Tilak and Abhishek rotating strike and clearing the boundary consistently.
- Pakistan needed roughly 11–12 runs per over in the last phase but lost wickets at crucial junctures.
- Axar Patel picked up 2 wickets, while Washington Sundar and the pace attack maintained pressure in the death.
The win extends India’s dominance over Pakistan in T20Is, marking their seventh consecutive victory against their arch-rivals in the format.
Historic Double For India In Asian Games Cricket
This gold completes a clean sweep for India in cricket at the 2026 Asian Games. Earlier, the Indian women’s team beat Sri Lanka to win their own gold medal, giving India both men’s and women’s titles.
For the men, it is a second straight Asian Games gold, having first won the tournament at the 2023 Hangzhou Games.
Reactions From Top Leaders
Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated the squad on social media, saying: “The gold comes to India yet again!” ICC Chairman Jay Shah, who presented the medals in Nagoya, praised Japan and the organizers for writing “a proud new chapter in cricket’s history”.
Final Medal Standings (Men’s Cricket, Asian Games 2026)
- Gold: India
- Silver: Pakistan
- Bronze: Sri Lanka
With this win, India reinforce their status as the top T20 side in Asia and add another major multi-sport event title to their trophy cabinet.
