India's cricket team has won the gold medal at the Asian Games 2026, defeating Pakistan by 19 runs in a thrilling final at Korogi Sports Park in Nisshin, Japan. Abhishek Sharma's 61 off 28 deliveries and Tilak Varma's unbeaten 51 off 22 balls helped India post a total of 211/6 in 20 overs. The Indian team's all-round effort, including contributions from Washington Sundar, Axar Patel, and Shivam Dube, proved crucial in securing the win.
India began their innings aggressively after Shreyas Iyer won the toss and opted to bat first. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi hit 15 in nine with two sixes before being dismissed by Saim Ayub in the second over. Sanju Samson scored four in six before Ahmed Daniyal had him caught at mid-on. However, Abhishek Sharma's devastating touch in the Powerplay helped India reach 81/2 in the first six overs. Pakistan's fielding was also a source of frustration for them, with Saim Ayub dropping two catches in the same over.
Abhishek Sharma's 61 off 28 deliveries was a spectacular innings, including three fours and seven sixes at a strike rate of 217.85. He finally holed out to Arafat Minhas, but not before helping India reach a total of over 150 in 16.4 overs. Ishan Kishan made 20 off 18 balls, and Shreyas Iyer added 21 from 24 balls before they lost their wickets under the pressure of Pakistan's spin bowlers.
Tilak Varma and Shivam Dube blended superbly at the end to make it a 62-run partnership for the sixth wicket. The duo batted without respite, scoring 12 runs off the 17th over of Abrar Ahmed, 18 runs in the 18th over of Sufyan Moqim, and 23 runs off the 19th over by Saim Ayub. Tilak finished 51 not out from 22 balls, including three fours and four sixes at a strike rate of 231.81.
Pakistan's run-chase got underway at a steady pace, but the Indian attack continued to pick wickets at regular intervals. Hasan Nawaz launched a breathtaking counterattack, scoring 96 off 51 balls to frustrate Pakistan's cause. However, India's all-rounders and spinners showed their true mettle when the pressure mounted, with Washington Sundar and Axar Patel sharing the middle overs and preventing Pakistan from building a big total.
Shivam Dube took the wicket of Hasan Nawaz on the final ball of the match, ending Pakistan's innings at 192 for 6 and sending the Indian players into wild celebrations. India's total of 211/6 marked the second instance of a full-member team scoring over 200 in a 5-plus team T20I tournament final. Abhishek Sharma's 7 sixes against Pakistan put him second on the list of most sixes for India in T20I finals.
The win marks India's second consecutive Asian Games gold medal in cricket. The Indian team's performance was praised for their ability to handle pressure and make crucial contributions from their all-rounders and spinners. The match was a thrilling encounter, with Pakistan pushing India to the limit before ultimately falling short.
Key points
- India beat Pakistan by 19 runs in a thrilling final at Korogi Sports Park on Saturday to claim back-to-back Asian Games gold medals.
- Abhishek Sharma's 61 off 28 deliveries and Tilak Varma's unbeaten 51 off 22 balls helped India post a total of 211/6 in 20 overs.
- Hasan Nawaz's 96 off 51 balls was a highlight for Pakistan, but India's all-rounders and spinners ultimately proved too strong.
