India held their nerve against a spirited Pakistan chase to win the men’s cricket gold medal at the 2026 Asian Games, securing a 19-run victory in a high-scoring final.
Abhishek Sharma’s explosive half-century gave India a flying start before Tilak Varma and Shivam Dube provided the late acceleration to take the total to 211/6. Pakistan threatened to pull off a remarkable chase through Hasan Nawaz, but India’s bowlers managed the crucial moments to restrict them to 192/6.
The victory gives India their second consecutive gold medal in the men’s cricket event at the Asian Games.
IND vs PAK: Abhishek Sharma sets the tone
India opted to bat first and made the most of the Powerplay, despite a surface that offered assistance to spin.
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi immediately put Pakistan under pressure, taking on Saad Masood for two sixes before Abhishek joined the attack. The second over eventually cost Pakistan 24 runs as India’s openers found the boundaries with remarkable ease.
India reached 50 in only 3.2 overs.
Sooryavanshi fell soon after, while Sanju Samson also departed cheaply, but Abhishek continued to attack. He survived a couple of chances before bringing up his half-century from just 20 balls.
His innings ended on 61 when Arafat Minhas had him stumped after a delivery kept unusually low.
Pakistan’s spinners subsequently found better lengths and slowed India’s scoring. Ishan Kishan and Shreyas Iyer struggled to maintain the early tempo, and India went 34 deliveries without finding a boundary.
IND vs PAK: Tilak and Dube finish with a flourish
With India needing a late surge, Tilak Varma finally broke the boundary drought in the 17th over.
That opened the floodgates.
Shivam Dube followed with a boundary before Tilak took apart Sufyan Moqim. Dube then stepped out against Saim Ayub and launched two successive sixes.
The 19th over produced 23 runs, putting India firmly beyond the 200 mark.
Dube fell early in the final over, but Tilak remained unbeaten and reached his half-century from only 21 balls. Two more sixes against Ahmed Daniyal took India to 211/6.
Pakistan’s task was steep, but Hasan Nawaz ensured the chase remained alive.
IND vs PAK: Nawaz keeps Pakistan in the contest
Pakistan lost early wickets as Axar Patel and Washington Sundar struck during the Powerplay, leaving them 39/2 after six overs.
Axar added another wicket when Washington held onto a catch after throwing the ball up to Maaz Sadaqat.
With the required rate climbing above 13 an over, Pakistan needed something special. Nawaz and Saim Ayub provided it.
The pair added 87 runs and briefly shifted the momentum back towards Pakistan. Nawaz survived a dropped catch and later capitalised on India’s fielding errors, repeatedly clearing the boundary against Ravi Bishnoi.
Bishnoi conceded 44 from his three overs as Nawaz reached his half-century.
India needed a breakthrough, and Shreyas Iyer turned to Dube. The move worked immediately, with Ayub dismissed while attempting a scoop.
India close it out
Pakistan still required 68 from the final four overs, and India gave them a few more opportunities through loose fielding.
Washington, however, delivered when it mattered most. His 18th over cost only eight runs and included the wicket of Abdul Samad.
Bumrah then bowled the penultimate over, conceding a six but largely hitting his yorker lengths to leave Pakistan needing 33 from the final six balls.
Dube conceded a boundary and a wide at the start of the last over, but recovered with a yorker that effectively ended Pakistan’s hopes.
Nawaz eventually fell off the final delivery for 96, ending a remarkable individual effort.
Pakistan finished on 192/6, 19 runs short.
Axar, Washington and Dube took two wickets apiece, while India survived a late scare to claim another Asian Games gold.
After a dominant semifinal against Sri Lanka, India were pushed much harder in the final. They still found enough at the crucial moments to finish the tournament unbeaten and retain their title.
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