Kumar Bahukhandi
India’s players celebrate the dismissal of Pakistan’s Saim Ayub during the men’s cricket gold-medal match at the Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan, on Saturday, October 3, 2026. India defeated Pakistan by 19 runs to successfully defend their Asian Games title. Photo: AP
Abhishek Sharma’s explosive 61 and Tilak Varma’s unbeaten 51 power India to 211/6 before bowlers hold Pakistan to 192/6 in the final
Key Highlights
- India defeated Pakistan by 19 runs to retain the Asian Games men’s cricket gold medal.
- India posted 211/6, the highest total of the men’s competition.
- Abhishek Sharma hammered 61 off 28 balls, including seven sixes.
- Tilak Varma struck an unbeaten 51 off just 22 deliveries.
- Pakistan’s Hasan Nawaz fought back with 96 off 51 balls, but India restricted Pakistan to 192/6.
- India have now won the men’s cricket gold at two successive Asian Games.
Nisshin, Japan: India successfully defended their Asian Games men’s cricket title with a 19-run victory over Pakistan in a high-scoring gold-medal contest on Saturday, October 3, 2026.
Captain Shreyas Iyer’s decision to bat first paid off as India amassed 211 for six in 20 overs, powered by two contrasting but equally damaging half-centuries from Abhishek Sharma and Tilak Varma.
Abhishek provided the early assault, smashing 61 from only 28 balls with three fours and seven sixes. He reached his half-century in just 20 deliveries as India seized the initiative during the opening stages.
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi contributed a quick 15, while Ishan Kishan made 20 and Iyer added 21. Pakistan managed to slow India briefly through the middle overs, but Tilak transformed the closing stages.
The left-hander remained unbeaten on 51 from 22 balls, striking three fours and four sixes. His partnership with Shivam Dube, who contributed 27, ensured India crossed the 200-run mark and set Pakistan a formidable target of 212.
Pakistan refused to surrender the contest easily.
Hasan Nawaz produced a powerful counter-attacking innings, scoring 96 from 51 deliveries and keeping Pakistan’s hopes alive deep into the chase. However, India continued to find breakthroughs at crucial moments.
Pakistan eventually finished on 192 for six, leaving India 19 runs ahead and confirming another Asian Games gold medal.
The victory gave India a second successive men’s cricket gold after their title at Hangzhou 2022. It also completed a cricket gold double for India at Aichi-Nagoya 2026, following the women’s team’s title earlier in the Games.
