India Beat Pakistan to Win Asian Games 2026 Cricket Gold: Abhishek, Tilak and a Last-Ball Finish, Explained
India defended their Asian Games men's cricket title by beating Pakistan by 19 runs in the final at Nisshin, Japan, on 3 October 2026. Abhishek Sharma and Tilak Varma powered India to 211, Hasan Nawaz's 96 kept Pakistan in it, and India's women completed a golden double. Here is the full story.
Some India vs Pakistan finals are decided early. This one went to the very last ball. In the men's cricket final of the 2026 Asian Games at Nisshin, in Japan's Aichi Prefecture, on 3 October 2026, India posted 211 for 6, watched Hasan Nawaz threaten to chase it almost single-handedly, and closed out a 19-run win to retain their gold medal. Here is how it happened.
The 60-second version
- Result: India 211/6 (20 overs) beat Pakistan 192/6 (20 overs) by 19 runs.
- Toss: India won it and batted first.
- India's stars: Abhishek Sharma 61 (28), Tilak Varma 51* (22).
- Pakistan's star: Hasan Nawaz 96 (51), out to the final ball of the match.
- The bowlers: Axar Patel, Washington Sundar and Shivam Dube took two wickets each.
- Bigger picture: India's women also won gold, completing a golden double.
India's innings: Abhishek sets it up, Tilak finishes
India, led by Shreyas Iyer, chose to bat and attacked from the start. Abhishek Sharma set the tone with a blistering 61 off 28 balls before he was stumped. Teenager Vaibhav Sooryavanshi chipped in with a quick 15 off 9, while Ishan Kishan (20) and Iyer (21) kept the scoreboard moving.
The late surge came from Tilak Varma, who hammered an unbeaten 51 off just 22 balls, with Shivam Dube adding a brisk 27 off 15. India finished on 211 for 6, their highest total of the tournament, at exactly the right time.
For Pakistan, Arafat Minhas was the most economical bowler with 2 for 25 from three overs, and Ahmed Daniyal also took two wickets.
Pakistan's chase: Hasan Nawaz's lone hand
Chasing 212, Pakistan needed a big individual innings, and Hasan Nawaz delivered one. He smashed 96 off 51 balls, getting support from Saim Ayub (29) and Maaz Sadaqat (23). But wickets fell around him at key moments, and captain Sahibzada Farhan went for 10.
India's spinners did the squeezing. Axar Patel and Washington Sundar each returned 2 for 29 from their four overs. The finale fell to Shivam Dube, who defended the last over, conceding just 13 runs, and had Nawaz caught behind off the final ball, four short of a century. Pakistan ended on 192 for 6.
Scorecard snapshot
| India 211/6 (20) | Pakistan 192/6 (20) | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Abhishek Sharma | 61 (28) | Hasan Nawaz | 96 (51) |
| Tilak Varma | 51* (22) | Saim Ayub | 29 (22) |
| Shivam Dube | 27 (15) | Maaz Sadaqat | 23 (18) |
| Shreyas Iyer | 21 (24) | Saad Masood | 12* (5) |
| Pakistan bowling | India bowling | ||
| Arafat Minhas | 2/25 | Axar Patel | 2/29 |
| Ahmed Daniyal | 2/43 | Washington Sundar | 2/29 |
| Shivam Dube | 2/33 |
Why this win matters
- Title defended. India had won the men's gold at the previous Asian Games and have now retained it.
- The rivalry. The win extended India's lead over Pakistan in men's T20 meetings to 15-3, according to Olympics.com.
- A golden double. India's women thrashed Sri Lanka by 147 runs in their final, so India defended both cricket titles at the Games.
- The next generation. With players like Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi starring, the squad offered a strong look at India's T20 depth beyond the senior side.
India came to Japan as favourites and left with both golds. But the men's final was a reminder that against Pakistan, nothing is safe until the last ball is bowled.
Scores and details are based on the official scorecard of the Asian Games 2026 men's cricket final and public match reports.
Frequently asked questions
›Who won the Asian Games 2026 men's cricket gold?
India won the gold medal, beating Pakistan by 19 runs in the final on 3 October 2026 at Nisshin in Aichi Prefecture, Japan. It was India's second straight Asian Games men's cricket title.
›What was the score in the India vs Pakistan Asian Games final?
India made 211 for 6 in 20 overs after winning the toss and batting. Pakistan replied with 192 for 6 in their 20 overs, falling 19 runs short.
›Who were the top performers in the final?
For India, Abhishek Sharma scored 61 off 28 balls and Tilak Varma made an unbeaten 51 off 22. Axar Patel, Washington Sundar and Shivam Dube took two wickets each. For Pakistan, Hasan Nawaz top-scored with 96 off 51 balls.
›Did India's women also win gold?
Yes. India's women beat Sri Lanka by 147 runs in their final, so India completed a golden double by defending both the men's and women's cricket titles at the 2026 Asian Games.