India vs Pakistan: India defeated Pakistan by 19 runs in the men’s cricket final of the Asian Games 2026 at Korogi Sports Park in Nisshin, Japan, on October 3. Batting first after winning the toss, India posted a huge 211/6 in 20 overs before restricting Pakistan to 192/6.
The victory gave India their second consecutive Asian Games men’s cricket gold medal, while Pakistan finished with the silver medal. Abhishek Sharma and Tilak Varma played major roles with the bat, while India’s spinners and Shivam Dube’s late spell helped the defending champions hold their nerve in a high-scoring final.
India vs Pakistan Final: India Win by 19 Runs
India captain Shreyas Iyer won the toss and elected to bat first, putting Pakistan into the field at Korogi Sports Park. India made an aggressive start through Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and Abhishek Sharma. Sooryavanshi scored 15 from just nine balls before Saim Ayub dismissed him. Abhishek then took control of the innings. The left-handed batter smashed 61 runs from 28 balls, including three fours and seven sixes. His strike rate of more than 217 gave India the early momentum they needed.
India were eventually slowed down by Pakistan’s bowlers in the middle overs. Sanju Samson departed for two, while captain Shreyas Iyer made 21 from 24 balls. Ishan Kishan also contributed 20 from 18 deliveries. At one stage, India were 137/5, leaving Pakistan with an opportunity to restrict them to a more manageable total. However, Tilak Varma changed the momentum completely.
Tilak Varma and Shivam Dube Power India to 211
Tilak Varma produced a spectacular finish to India’s innings. He remained unbeaten on 51 from just 22 balls, hitting three fours and four sixes. His innings came at a strike rate above 230 and helped India add a huge number of runs during the final stages.
Shivam Dube also provided valuable support, scoring 27 from 15 balls with two fours and two sixes. The pair added 62 runs from 31 deliveries, transforming India’s position from a potentially modest total into a commanding 211/6. India scored 46 runs in the final three overs to finish with 211/6.
Pakistan’s Arafat Minhas was one of their most effective bowlers, finishing with 2/25, while Ahmed Daniyal claimed 2/43. Pakistan therefore needed 212 runs from 20 overs to win the Asian Games gold medal.
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Pakistan Make a Strong Fightback
Pakistan’s chase did not get off to the kind of start they needed. India’s bowlers applied pressure during the early overs, but Saim Ayub and Hasan Nawaz eventually helped Pakistan recover. Ayub scored 29 runs from 22 balls, while Hasan Nawaz produced the innings of the chase.
Nawaz kept Pakistan’s hopes alive with an outstanding 96 from 51 balls, including five fours and seven sixes. His aggressive batting repeatedly put pressure on India’s bowlers during the second half of the innings. Pakistan’s chase also received a major boost from an 87-run partnership between Hasan Nawaz and Saim Ayub, which brought the required run rate back within reach. With wickets in hand, Pakistan entered the final stages of the match needing a big finish.
India Hold Their Nerve in the Final Overs
Despite Hasan Nawaz’s brilliant effort, Pakistan could not complete the chase. India’s spinners played an important role throughout the innings. Axar Patel finished with 2/29, while Washington Sundar also claimed 2/29.
Sundar was particularly influential during the later stages, while Shivam Dube returned to bowl the final over after making an impact with the bat. Pakistan required a substantial number of runs in the final over, but Dube dismissed Hasan Nawaz with the last ball of the innings. Nawaz was caught behind for 96, falling just four runs short of a century. Pakistan eventually finished on 192/6 after 20 overs, handing India a 19-run victory.
India vs Pakistan Scorecard
| Team | Score | Result |
| India | 211/6 (20 overs) | Won |
| Pakistan | 192/6 (20 overs) | Lost |
| Margin | India won by 19 runs | — |
India’s Top Batters
| Batter | Runs | Balls |
| Abhishek Sharma | 61 | 28 |
| Tilak Varma | 51* | 22 |
| Shreyas Iyer | 21 | 24 |
| Ishan Kishan | 20 | 18 |
| Shivam Dube | 27 | 15 |
| Vaibhav Sooryavanshi | 15 | 9 |
Pakistan’s Top Batters
| Batter | Runs | Balls |
| Hasan Nawaz | 96 | 51 |
| Saim Ayub | 29 | 22 |
| Saad Masood | 12* | 5 |
The official scorecard confirms India’s 211/6 and Pakistan’s 192/6, with India winning by 19 runs.
Abhishek Sharma Sets the Platform
One of the biggest differences between the two teams was India’s start with the bat. Abhishek Sharma attacked Pakistan’s bowling from the beginning and reached his half-century from only 20 deliveries. His 61 off 28 balls included seven sixes and three fours.
His aggressive approach allowed India to maintain a high scoring rate despite losing wickets in the middle overs. Although Pakistan managed to dismiss him in the eighth over, the damage had already been done. Abhishek’s innings provided India with the platform required for Tilak Varma and Shivam Dube to launch their late assault.
Tilak Varma Produces a Match-Defining Finish
- While Abhishek gave India momentum early, Tilak Varma was responsible for the explosive finish.
- Tilak initially played a more controlled innings after coming to the crease. However, once India reached the final five overs, he began attacking Pakistan’s bowlers.
- His unbeaten 51 off 22 balls proved crucial.
- The left-hander’s four sixes and three fours helped India score 97 runs during the second half of the innings despite losing four wickets.
- His partnership with Dube ensured India crossed the 200-run mark and put Pakistan under considerable pressure in the chase.
Hasan Nawaz Nearly Takes Pakistan Over the Line
- Pakistan’s response was led almost entirely by Hasan Nawaz.
- The batter’s 96 off 51 balls was one of the standout individual performances of the final. He struck seven sixes and five fours while keeping Pakistan’s chase alive until the last delivery.
- Nawaz entered the final over with Pakistan still needing a difficult number of runs, but he continued attacking.
- He hit a six from Dube’s 19.4 delivery and moved to 94. Two runs from the next ball took him to 96.
- However, the final delivery brought the decisive moment.
- Dube dismissed Nawaz caught behind, ending Pakistan’s chase at 192/6 and securing India’s gold medal.
India’s Second Consecutive Asian Games Gold
The victory is significant for India’s cricket team because it represents their second consecutive men’s cricket gold medal at the Asian Games. India won the men’s cricket gold at the Hangzhou Asian Games in 2023. Their victory over Pakistan in the 2026 final means India have now successfully defended that title. Pakistan, meanwhile, secured the silver medal. The final was also another chapter in the long-running India-Pakistan cricket rivalry. Before the Asian Games final, the two sides had already met in the 2026 T20 World Cup, where India recorded a victory.
India vs Pakistan: What Happened in the Final?
India’s victory came down to several key moments:
- India scored 211/6 after batting first.
- Abhishek Sharma smashed 61 off 28 balls.
- Tilak Varma finished unbeaten on 51 off 22 balls.
- Tilak and Shivam Dube added 62 runs from 31 balls.
- Pakistan’s Hasan Nawaz scored 96 off 51 balls.
- Axar Patel and Washington Sundar claimed two wickets each.
- Shivam Dube dismissed Hasan Nawaz on the final delivery.
- Pakistan finished on 192/6.
- India won by 19 runs and retained the Asian Games men’s cricket gold medal.
Conclusion
The India vs Pakistan Asian Games 2026 final delivered a high-scoring contest, with both teams producing strong batting performances. India ultimately had enough runs on the board to withstand Pakistan’s late challenge. Abhishek Sharma’s explosive 61 and Tilak Varma’s unbeaten 51 formed the foundation of India’s 211-run total. Pakistan responded through Hasan Nawaz, whose 96 kept the chase alive almost until the final ball. However, India’s bowling attack held firm at the decisive moments. Dube’s final-over dismissal of Nawaz sealed a 19-run victory, giving India another Asian Games gold medal and leaving Pakistan with silver.
FAQs
Q1. Who won the India vs Pakistan final?
India defeated Pakistan by 19 runs in the India vs Pakistan final.
Q2. What was India’s score against Pakistan?
India scored 211/6 in 20 overs after batting first.
Q3. What was Pakistan’s score against India?
Pakistan scored 192/6 in 20 overs while chasing India’s target of 212 runs.
Q4. Who was the top scorer for India in the India vs Pakistan final?
Abhishek Sharma was India’s top scorer, making 61 runs off 28 balls.
Q5. Who scored the most runs for Pakistan?
Hasan Nawaz was Pakistan’s leading run-scorer with 96 runs off 51 balls.
