JAPAN, 03 Oct (Sports Desk)
India defeated Pakistan by 19 runs in the men’s T20 cricket gold-medal match at the 20th Asian Games, Aichi-Nagoya 2026, in Nisshin, Japan. India posted 211/6 in 20 overs and then restricted Pakistan to 192/8, securing the gold medal. The final was played at Korogi Sports Park, Nisshin, on October 3, 2026.
India 211/6 — Explosive batting display
India won the toss and chose to bat first. The innings got off to a rapid start, with Abhishek Sharma leading the charge.
- 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
- Shivam Dube – 27 off 15 balls
- 2 fours
- 2 sixes
- Shreyas Iyer – 21 off 24 balls
- Ishan Kishan – 20 off 18 balls
- Vaibhav Sooryavanshi – 15 off 9 balls
- Sanju Samson – 2 off 4 balls
- Axar Patel – 1 off 1 ball*
India finished on 211/6, setting Pakistan a target of 212.
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Abhishek Sharma’s explosive knock
Abhishek Sharma was the main architect of India’s fast start. He brought up his half-century in only 20 balls and eventually made 61 from 28 deliveries, including seven sixes.
He was dismissed in the eighth over by Arafat Minhas, but his aggressive innings had already given India considerable momentum.
Tilak Varma finishes strongly
After Pakistan’s bowlers slowed India down in the middle overs, Tilak Varma and Shivam Dube produced a powerful late assault.
Dube scored 27 from 15 balls, while Tilak remained unbeaten on 51 from only 22 balls. Their late hitting helped India cross the 200-run mark and finish at 211/6.
Pakistan’s chase
Pakistan needed 212 runs from 20 overs for the gold medal.
Pakistan’s chase had promising moments, with Hasan Nawaz producing the major individual contribution. However, India kept taking wickets at crucial stages and Pakistan could not maintain the required scoring rate throughout the innings.
Pakistan eventually finished on 192/8, leaving India 19 runs ahead.
India’s bowling effort
India’s bowlers maintained pressure during the chase, with Axar Patel among the key contributors. The all-rounder took important wickets while keeping the scoring rate under control.
The victory completed India’s gold-medal campaign in the men’s cricket competition and gave them the Asian Games title after their previous gold-medal success in the 2023 Hangzhou Games. India had entered the final as defending champions.
Final Score
| Team | Score |
|---|---|
| India | 211/6 (20 overs) |
| Pakistan | 192/8 (20 overs) |
| Result | India won by 19 runs |
Key performers
India
- ⭐ Abhishek Sharma — 61 (28)
- ⭐ Tilak Varma — 51 (22)*
- Shivam Dube — 27 (15)
Pakistan
- Hasan Nawaz — major contribution in the chase
- Maaz Sadaqat — useful contribution
Gold for India
The result means India won the men’s T20 cricket gold medal at the 2026 Asian Games, defeating Pakistan by 19 runs in the final. India’s 211/6 was powered by Abhishek Sharma’s explosive 61 and Tilak Varma’s unbeaten 51.
