Nisshin, Japan. India retained the men’s cricket gold medal at the Asian Games 2026 after defeating Pakistan by 19 runs in a high-voltage final on Saturday. The victory completed a golden double for India in cricket, with the women’s team having earlier beaten Sri Lanka to win the women’s gold. India posted 211/6 after being sent into bat first and then restricted Pakistan to 192/6 in their 20 overs. Abhishek Sharma and Tilak Varma were the architects of India’s imposing total, while Pakistan’s Hasan Nawaz produced a remarkable 96 that ultimately could not take his side across the finish line.

The final also featured an early flashpoint involving 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and Pakistan all-rounder Saim Ayub. Sooryavanshi began aggressively, hitting two sixes in the second over before attempting a reverse sweep against Ayub. The shot resulted in his dismissal for 15 off nine balls, with wicketkeeper Usman Khan completing the catch. Ayub then celebrated by making a rocking-a-baby gesture in the direction of the young Indian batter. The gesture quickly became one of the talking points of the final, particularly because India’s response came almost immediately through Sooryavanshi’s opening partner, Abhishek Sharma.

Abhishek took charge of the innings after Sooryavanshi’s departure, attacking Pakistan’s bowling with a succession of boundaries and sixes. He reached his half-century in only 20 balls and eventually scored 61 from 28 deliveries, hitting three fours and seven sixes. Pakistan’s bowling and fielding offered India further opportunities, with Abhishek surviving a run-out chance and benefiting from missed chances. His dismissal in the eighth over ended an explosive innings, but India were already firmly positioned to build a substantial total. Shreyas Iyer contributed 21 and Ishan Kishan made 20 before Tilak Varma took over the finishing duties.

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Tilak produced the late acceleration India needed, remaining unbeaten on 51 from just 22 balls. His innings included three fours and four sixes and helped India cross the 200-run mark, finishing on 211/6 after 20 overs. It was the highest total of the men’s cricket competition. Pakistan needed 212 for victory but lost early wickets as Washington Sundar and Axar Patel made important breakthroughs. Despite the setbacks, Hasan Nawaz and Saim Ayub mounted a strong recovery, putting together an 87-run partnership. Ayub scored 29 from 22 balls before Shivam Dube dismissed him, leaving Pakistan increasingly dependent on Nawaz.

Nawaz kept Pakistan’s hopes alive with an outstanding 96 from 51 balls, including five fours and seven sixes. He took the chase deep and ensured India could not relax despite having posted a formidable total. India’s bowlers, however, continued to pick up wickets at important moments. Axar Patel and Washington Sundar took two wickets each, while Dube also claimed two, including Nawaz with the final delivery of the match. Pakistan finished on 192/6, leaving India with a 19-run victory and a second successive men’s Asian Games cricket gold after their triumph at Hangzhou in 2023.

The result gave India both cricket gold medals at the 2026 Asian Games. The women’s team had earlier defeated Sri Lanka by 147 runs in their final, while the men followed with a victory over Pakistan. For India, the men’s final was ultimately defined by aggressive batting from Abhishek and Tilak, disciplined contributions from the bowling attack and their ability to withstand Pakistan’s late challenge. The early Ayub-Sooryavanshi exchange added another layer to an already intense contest, but India had the final say on the scoreboard, defending their Asian Games title with a 19-run win.

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