India beat Pakistan by 19 runs in the Asian Games 2026 men’s cricket final, with Abhishek Sharma’s 61 and Tilak Varma’s unbeaten 51 helping India secure the gold medal.
Match Summary
India beat Pakistan by 19 runs in the Asian Games 2026 men’s cricket final to secure the gold medal.
India Win Asian Games Gold
India defeated Pakistan by 19 runs in the men’s cricket final at Korogi Sports Park, Nisshin, on October 3, 2026. After winning the toss and choosing to bat, India posted 211/6 in 20 overs, powered by Abhishek Sharma’s 61 and an unbeaten 51 from Tilak Varma.
Pakistan made a determined chase and reached 192/6 in their 20 overs. Hasan Nawaz kept the contest alive with 96 from 51 balls, but India’s bowlers held their nerve in the closing overs to secure the gold medal.
| Match Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Match | India vs Pakistan, Asian Games Men’s Cricket Final 2026 |
| Date | October 3, 2026 |
| Venue | Korogi Sports Park, Nisshin, Japan |
| Toss | India won the toss and elected to bat |
| India | 211/6 in 20 overs |
| Pakistan | 192/6 in 20 overs |
| Result | India won by 19 runs |
| Medal | India won gold; Pakistan won silver |
India Innings
India turned an explosive start into a match-winning 211/6, with Abhishek Sharma providing the early acceleration and Tilak Varma finishing the innings in style.
Powerplay: Abhishek Sharma Sets the Tempo
India made an aggressive start after choosing to bat first. Abhishek Sharma took the attack to Pakistan’s bowlers, reaching his half-century from just 20 balls. He eventually scored 61 from 28 deliveries, hitting three fours and seven sixes.
India raced to 50 in only 3.2 overs and finished the powerplay on 81/2. The early scoring rate gave India a strong platform despite losing two wickets during the opening six overs.
Middle Overs: Pakistan Pull Things Back
Pakistan’s bowlers managed to slow India’s scoring after the powerplay. India moved from 81/2 at the end of six overs to 114/3 after ten, while a 34-ball period without a boundary helped Pakistan regain some control.
Shreyas Iyer contributed 21 from 24 balls, while Ishan Kishan added 20 from 18. Although India’s scoring rate dipped through the middle phase, the platform created by the opening assault kept the total within reach of a strong finish.
Death Overs: Tilak Varma Delivers the Finish
Tilak Varma then changed the momentum during the closing overs. He remained unbeaten on 51 from 22 balls, with three fours and four sixes, reaching his fifty from only 21 deliveries.
Shivam Dube also played an important finishing role with 27 from 15 balls. India produced a major surge late in the innings, including 23 runs in the 19th over, before finishing on 211/6 from their 20 overs.
Abhishek Sharma
61 off 28 balls
3 fours · 7 sixes
Strike rate: 217.85
Tilak Varma
51* off 22 balls
3 fours · 4 sixes
Strike rate: 231.81
Pakistan Chase
Pakistan made a serious push toward India’s 212-run target, but Hasan Nawaz’s outstanding 96 was not enough as India’s bowlers defended 211/6.
Powerplay: Pakistan Lose Early Wickets
Pakistan needed 212 to win the Asian Games final but could not match India’s early scoring pace. They reached 39/2 during the powerplay before losing another wicket shortly afterward, leaving the chase under pressure.
India’s bowling attack kept the required rate under control in the opening phase. Axar Patel and Washington Sundar were particularly effective at restricting Pakistan’s scoring options and creating pressure through the middle.
Middle Overs: Hasan Nawaz Leads the Recovery
Hasan Nawaz then gave Pakistan’s chase a major lift. He attacked India’s bowlers and reached his half-century from 28 balls, keeping Pakistan within striking distance of the target.
Nawaz combined with Saim Ayub for an 87-run fourth-wicket partnership. Ayub contributed 29 from 22 balls, while Nawaz continued to find boundaries as Pakistan rebuilt after the difficult start.
Final Overs: India Hold Their Nerve
Hasan Nawaz remained Pakistan’s main hope deep into the chase and finished with an outstanding 96 from 51 balls, including five fours and seven sixes. Pakistan, however, could not maintain the required scoring rate against India’s disciplined late bowling.
Washington Sundar delivered an important 18th over, removing Abdul Samad and conceding only eight runs apart from a six from the final delivery. The equation became increasingly difficult, eventually leaving Pakistan needing 33 runs from the final over.
Shivam Dube defended the final over and dismissed Hasan Nawaz on the last delivery. Pakistan finished on 192/6 after 20 overs, 19 runs short of India’s total.
Hasan Nawaz
96 off 51 balls
5 fours · 7 sixes
Strike rate: 188.23
Saim Ayub
29 off 22 balls
Part of an 87-run fourth-wicket partnership with Hasan Nawaz.
Turning Point
India’s late-innings acceleration and disciplined bowling in the closing overs ultimately separated the two sides in a 19-run final.
Tilak Varma’s Late Surge Changed the Equation
India had reached 114/3 after 10 overs after Pakistan’s bowlers had slowed the scoring through the middle phase. The final five overs, however, brought a decisive change in momentum.
Tilak Varma’s unbeaten 51 from 22 balls, supported by Shivam Dube’s 27 from 15, gave India the late acceleration it needed. The 23-run 19th over pushed India rapidly toward 200 before they finished on 211/6.
Pakistan’s response then produced its own dramatic phase. Hasan Nawaz’s 96 from 51 balls kept the chase alive deep into the innings, but India’s bowlers managed the final overs effectively. Washington Sundar’s 18th over and Shivam Dube’s final over prevented Pakistan from completing the chase.
With 33 runs required from the final over, Pakistan’s margin for error had disappeared. Dube dismissed Nawaz with the last delivery, leaving Pakistan on 192/6 and India 19 runs short of the target.
Key Performances
Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma and Hasan Nawaz produced the standout individual performances of the Asian Games 2026 final.
Abhishek Sharma — 61 off 28
Abhishek Sharma provided India’s early acceleration with 61 runs from 28 balls, including three fours and seven sixes. He reached his half-century from only 20 deliveries and helped India race to 81/2 during the powerplay.
Tilak Varma — 51* off 22
Tilak Varma supplied the crucial late acceleration, finishing unbeaten on 51 from 22 balls. His innings contained three fours and four sixes, and his 21-ball fifty helped India reach 211/6.
Hasan Nawaz — 96 off 51
Hasan Nawaz was Pakistan’s outstanding batter during the chase. His 96 came from 51 balls, with five fours and seven sixes. He kept Pakistan in contention until the final over before being dismissed off the last delivery.
India’s Bowling Unit
Axar Patel took 2/29, Washington Sundar returned 2/29 and Shivam Dube finished with 2/33. Their six combined wickets helped India defend 211/6 and restrict Pakistan to 192/6.
Why India Won
India’s victory came from an explosive batting start, a strong finish and disciplined bowling when Pakistan threatened to close the gap.
1. Abhishek Sharma’s Explosive Start
Abhishek Sharma’s 61 from 28 balls gave India immediate momentum. His seven sixes helped India reach 81/2 by the end of the powerplay and established a high scoring rate early in the innings.
2. Tilak Varma’s Finishing Impact
After Pakistan pulled the scoring rate back during the middle overs, Tilak Varma produced an unbeaten 51 from 22 balls. His late acceleration, alongside Shivam Dube, pushed India beyond 200.
3. Pakistan’s Chase Was Put Under Pressure Early
Pakistan lost early wickets while chasing 212 and reached 39/2 during the powerplay. India’s bowlers kept the required rate high even when Hasan Nawaz later rebuilt the innings.
4. India Controlled the Closing Overs
Washington Sundar’s important 18th over and Shivam Dube’s final over prevented Pakistan from completing the chase. With 33 needed from the last over, India closed out the final and dismissed Hasan Nawaz with the final delivery.
Why Pakistan Lost
Pakistan’s chase remained competitive because of Hasan Nawaz, but the early wickets and the demanding final-over equation left too much ground to recover.
1. Early Wickets Slowed the Chase
Pakistan lost wickets during the opening phase while chasing 212. Reaching 39/2 in the powerplay meant the required scoring rate remained high for much of the innings.
2. India Recovered Control After the Powerplay
Hasan Nawaz and Saim Ayub rebuilt the innings with an 87-run fourth-wicket partnership, but India’s bowlers continued to create pressure and prevented Pakistan from matching India’s scoring rate consistently.
3. Hasan Nawaz’s Knock Came Under Increasing Pressure
Nawaz’s 96 from 51 balls kept Pakistan in the contest, but he needed more support around him during the closing stages. His dismissal on the final delivery ended Pakistan’s last major chance of completing the chase.
4. The Final Over Equation Was Too Demanding
Pakistan entered the final over needing 33 runs. Shivam Dube held his nerve and closed out the match, leaving Pakistan on 192/6 and 19 runs short of India’s 211/6.
Key Stats & Records
The Asian Games 2026 final produced several notable batting and match figures without relying on unsupported career or tournament records.
| Statistic | Figure |
|---|---|
| India’s total | 211/6 in 20 overs |
| Pakistan’s total | 192/6 in 20 overs |
| Winning margin | India won by 19 runs |
| Abhishek Sharma | 61 off 28 balls |
| Tilak Varma | 51* off 22 balls |
| Hasan Nawaz | 96 off 51 balls |
| Hasan Nawaz’s partnership | 87 runs with Saim Ayub |
| Final-over equation | Pakistan needed 33 runs |
India’s Bowling Figures
| Bowler | Figures |
|---|---|
| Axar Patel | 2/29 |
| Washington Sundar | 2/29 |
| Shivam Dube | 2/33 |
Abhishek’s Fast Fifty
Abhishek Sharma reached his half-century from just 20 balls before finishing with 61 from 28 deliveries.
Tilak’s Unbeaten Fifty
Tilak Varma reached his fifty from 21 balls and finished unbeaten on 51 from 22 deliveries.
Tournament Impact
India’s 19-run victory over Pakistan completed the men’s cricket medal standings at the Asian Games 2026.
India secured the gold medal after defending 211/6 against Pakistan in the men’s cricket final. Pakistan finished with the silver medal after reaching 192/6 in their 20 overs.
Sri Lanka had already secured the bronze medal by beating Bangladesh by 63 runs in the third-place play-off. Bangladesh therefore finished fourth in the men’s cricket competition.
| Medal | Team | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 🥇 Gold | India | Beat Pakistan by 19 runs |
| 🥈 Silver | Pakistan | Lost to India by 19 runs |
| 🥉 Bronze | Sri Lanka | Beat Bangladesh by 63 runs |
| 4th | Bangladesh | Lost to Sri Lanka by 63 runs |
India Take Gold
India’s men’s team added the Asian Games cricket gold after successfully defending 211/6 against Pakistan in the final.
Pakistan Finish With Silver
Pakistan’s strong chase, led by Hasan Nawaz’s 96, ended 19 runs short of India’s total, leaving them with the silver medal.
What’s Next
India and Pakistan have completed their Asian Games 2026 men’s cricket campaign with gold and silver respectively.
India’s Asian Games campaign ends with the gold medal after the 19-run victory over Pakistan in the final. The win completes the men’s cricket competition, with India finishing first, Pakistan second, Sri Lanka third and Bangladesh fourth.
For Pakistan, the final marked the end of a campaign that produced a silver medal. Hasan Nawaz’s 96 off 51 balls gave Pakistan a strong chance during the chase, but India held their nerve in the closing overs to defend 211/6.
The result also closes the Asian Games cricket schedule for the men’s competition. Future international assignments for both teams will depend on their respective upcoming schedules and selection plans.
India
India leave the Asian Games with the men’s cricket gold medal after beating Pakistan by 19 runs in the final.
Pakistan
Pakistan finish with silver after their chase reached 192/6, despite Hasan Nawaz’s 96 and an 87-run fourth-wicket partnership.
FAQs
Key questions about the India vs Pakistan Asian Games 2026 final.
India beat Pakistan by 19 runs in the men’s cricket final to win the Asian Games 2026 gold medal.
India scored 211/6 in 20 overs after being asked to bat first following their successful toss.
Pakistan finished on 192/6 in 20 overs while chasing India’s target of 212.
Abhishek Sharma top-scored for India with 61 runs from 28 balls, while Tilak Varma remained unbeaten on 51 from 22 balls.
Hasan Nawaz was Pakistan’s top scorer with 96 runs from 51 balls. He was dismissed off the final delivery of the match.
The final was played at Korogi Sports Park in Nisshin, Japan, on October 3, 2026.
India won gold, Pakistan won silver, Sri Lanka won bronze, and Bangladesh finished fourth in the men’s cricket competition.
Final Verdict
India held their nerve in a high-scoring Asian Games final to secure the men’s cricket gold medal.
India beat Pakistan by 19 runs after posting 211/6 and restricting Pakistan to 192/6. Abhishek Sharma’s explosive 61 and Tilak Varma’s unbeaten 51 provided the foundation, while India’s bowlers protected the total during Pakistan’s late push.
Hasan Nawaz’s 96 kept Pakistan in contention until the final over, but India completed the defense of their total to claim the Asian Games 2026 men’s cricket gold medal.
Sources
Match details and tournament information are based on official and established cricket reporting sources.
- International Cricket Council (ICC) — India defeat Pakistan to clinch Asian Games gold
- Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) — Hasan Nawaz’s valiant 96 goes in vain as Pakistan fall short in Asian Games final
- Cricbuzz — Abhishek, Tilak, Dube stave off Pakistan to clinch India’s gold
- Reuters — India beat Pakistan in final to complete cricket double
- Hindustan Times — India vs Pakistan Asian Games 2026 final match result
Match figures, player performances and the final result have been cross-checked against the available match reporting and scorecard information.
