Gold Again! India Beat Pakistan in Asian Games Thriller

• India posted 211/6 in 20 overs.
• Abhishek Sharma smashed 61 off 28 balls.
• Tilak Varma remained unbeaten on 51.
• Pakistan finished on 192/6.

GG News Bureau
NAGoya, Japan, 3rd Oct: India retained the men’s cricket gold medal at the Asian Games after defeating Pakistan by 19 runs in a closely contested final on Sunday.

India, batting first on a pitch that offered assistance to spinners, posted 211/6 in 20 overs. Abhishek Sharma led the scoring with a blistering 61 off 28 balls, while Tilak Varma provided a late surge with an unbeaten 51 off 22 deliveries.

Pakistan’s chase began under pressure as India picked up three wickets for 39 runs. Sahibzada Farhan, Maas Sadaqat and Usman Khan fell while attempting attacking shots.

Saim Ayub and Hasan Nawaz then rebuilt Pakistan’s innings, adding 87 runs. Nawaz completed a rapid half-century and kept Pakistan in contention deep into the chase.

India captain Shreyas Iyer brought Jasprit Bumrah back into the attack in the 14th over as Pakistan required 86 runs from the final six overs. Bumrah restricted the scoring before Shivam Dube dismissed Ayub in the following over.

Nawaz continued to keep Pakistan’s hopes alive, scoring 96 runs from 51 balls. However, Pakistan ultimately finished at 192/6, falling 19 runs short of India’s target.

Earlier, India’s innings had slowed after the aggressive start from Abhishek Sharma. Pakistan’s spinners managed to exert pressure before Varma and Shivam Dube changed the momentum in the closing overs. The pair added 62 runs in five overs.

Varma’s unbeaten half-century once again proved significant against Pakistan after his decisive contribution in India’s Asia Cup 2025 final victory.

India’s win secured another Asian Games men’s cricket gold medal and maintained their title from the previous edition.