India Finish on Top as Pakistan Settle for Silver in Asian Games Final

NISSHIN: India secured the gold medal in the men’s cricket final at the 2026 Asian Games after defeating Pakistan by 19 runs at Korogi Sports Park on Saturday.

Defending a total of 211, India were put under pressure during Pakistan’s chase but managed to restrict the Green Shirts to 192-6 in their allotted 20 overs.

Pakistan’s chase began with Sahibzada Farhan and Maaz Sadaqat adding 33 runs for the opening wicket. Their partnership came to an end in the fourth over when Washington Sundar dismissed Farhan for 10 from 11 balls.

India tightened the pressure immediately afterwards, with Axar Patel removing Usman Khan for three. Axar struck again shortly after, sending Maaz back for 23 off 18 balls, which left Pakistan struggling at 39-3.

Saim Ayub and Hasan Nawaz then took charge and rebuilt the innings with an 87-run fourth-wicket partnership. The pair gradually shifted the momentum back towards Pakistan and took the score beyond 100.

Nawaz once again demonstrated his outstanding form, reaching his third T20I half-century. Saim, meanwhile, provided valuable support before Shivam Dube ended the partnership by dismissing him for 29 off 22 balls.

Abdul Samad could not stay for long either, scoring nine from 10 deliveries before Sundar claimed his second wicket of the innings with Pakistan needing a major acceleration.

Despite losing wickets, Nawaz continued his remarkable assault and kept Pakistan in contention. He finished unbeaten on a sensational 96 from just 51 balls, striking five fours and seven sixes.

Saad Masood added 12, but Pakistan required 33 runs from the final over and eventually closed their innings at 192-6, falling 19 runs short of the target.

Axar Patel and Washington Sundar finished with two wickets apiece, while Shivam Dube also claimed two wickets for India.

Earlier, India elected to bat first and immediately attacked Pakistan’s bowlers. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and Abhishek Sharma raced away to boundaries during the opening exchanges before Saim Ayub provided Pakistan with their first breakthrough.

Saim dismissed Sooryavanshi for 15 off nine balls in the third over, ending a 28-run opening stand.

Abhishek continued to attack and quickly pushed India beyond the 50-run mark. Ahmed Daniyal then gave Pakistan another breakthrough by removing Sanju Samson for just two, leaving India at 51-2.

The aggressive Abhishek remained the major threat and completed a superb half-century. His innings finally came to an end when Arafat Minhas dismissed him for 61 from only 28 deliveries. He struck three fours and seven sixes during his explosive stay at the crease.

Shreyas Iyer and Ishan Kishan attempted to rebuild the innings and added 35 runs together. Minhas broke the partnership by removing Kishan for 20 off 18 balls.

Pakistan then made further inroads when Abrar Ahmed dismissed India captain Iyer for 21 from 24 deliveries.

With India needing a strong finish, Dube took responsibility and found the boundary regularly. Tilak Varma joined him and produced an explosive late-innings assault, including two consecutive sixes against Sufiyan Muqeem.

Daniyal returned to bowl the final over and immediately removed Dube, who made 27 from 15 balls with two fours and two sixes.

Varma, however, continued attacking until the very end. He cleared the boundary twice more and brought up his 10th T20I half-century as India crossed the 200-run mark.

The left-hander finished unbeaten on 51 from just 22 deliveries, hitting three fours and four sixes, as India posted an imposing 211-6.

Daniyal and Minhas were Pakistan’s leading wicket-takers with two wickets each, while Abrar Ahmed and Saim Ayub took one apiece.

India’s victory secured the men’s cricket gold medal at the 2026 Asian Games, while Pakistan finished with the silver medal.