India vs Pakistan LIVE, Asian Games men’s cricket final: India beat Pakistan by 19 runs to win gold medal
Holders India defeated arch-rivals Pakistan by 19 runs in the final to retain the Asian Games 2026 men’s cricket gold medal. After winning the toss and opting to bat first, India posted 211/6, with Abhishek Sharma top-scoring with 61 and vice-captain Tilak Varma remaining unbeaten on 51.
India’s bowlers then restricted Pakistan to 192/7 to seal a 19-run victory. Axar Patel, Shivam Dube and Washington Sundar took two wickets each for India. The victory marked India’s seventh successive win in T20Is over Pakistan since 2021, and the 15th in 18 T20I meetings since 2007.
The women’s team also successfully defended its gold medal earlier in the tournament. The win took India’s gold medal tally at the ongoing Games to 19.
Key Updates
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Sooryavanshi becomes youngest Indian to win gold
At just 15 years old, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi became the youngest Indian to win an Asian Games gold medal
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No handshakes between India and Pakistan
India and Pakistan players did not exchange handshakes after the match, continuing a recent trend between the two sides. There was no handshake at the toss either, amid the strained relations between the two neighbouring countries.
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CHAMPIONS ONCE AGAIN
India beat Pakistan by 19 runs to retain the Asian Games 2026 gold medal in men’s cricket.
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Shivam Dube does the job for India!
He concedes just 14 runs in the final over and picks up the crucial wicket of Hasan Nawaz, who falls for 96 off 51 balls. Pakistan finish on 178/6, as India win the gold medal!
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It all goes down to the final over
Bumrah starts the 18th over with just three runs from the first two balls, before Hasan launches one for six. The India pacer keeps his composure and limits the damage.
Pakistan need 33 runs from the final six balls.
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Washington looking Sundar
Abdul Samad is gone! Washington Sundar strikes, and Pakistan are now five wickets down. But Hasan Nawaz is still at the crease, so the job is far from done for India.
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Pakistan need 52 off 18
Nawaz, who was dropped on 4 and 59, continues to threaten. Pakistan collect crucial 16 runs off Shivam Dube in the 17th over. India desperately need wickets.
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Four overs to go
14 runs come off Axar Patel’s 16th over, but Pakistan still have plenty to do. They need 68 runs from the final four overs to chase down India’s 211.
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Dube strikes first ball
Shreyas Iyer brings Shivam Dube into the attack and he delivers immediately! The dangerous partnership is broken as Saim Ayub departs for 29, with Washington Sundar taking a good catch.
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Nawaz-Ayub partnership threatening
Great news for Pakistan, but not so much for India. Twenty runs come off the over, with Saim Ayub and Arafat Minhas continuing to build a crucial partnership.
The pair are giving Pakistan some much-needed stability after the top order collapsed cheaply. Their partnership is now worth 78* runs.
Pakistan are 113/3 after 13 overs. Hasan Nawaz 54*, Saim Ayub 24* -
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Ayub takes on Abhishek
Abhishek Sharma is back into the attack. After a couple of singles and a wide, Saim Ayub smashes a four over his head before finding the boundary again through the covers.
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Halfway to go
Pakistan reach 76/3 at the end of 10 overs.Their current run rate is 7.60, while they need 13.60 runs per over from here to chase down 212
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Hasan dropped
Abhishek comes into the attack. Hasan goes down the ground but gets only height on the shot. Sooryavanshi gets underneath it but puts it down after colliding with Bishnoi. Hasan makes India pay immediately, smashing the next ball for six!
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Pakistan’s top order collapses
Axar continues, and Washington takes a stunning catch on the boundary! Sadaqat goes for the sweep and gets good contact, but Washington runs around from backward point to complete the catch.
Pakistan 39/3.
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Pakistan end powerplay
Bowling his second over, Washington Sundar concedes just three runs as Pakistan finish the powerplay on 39/2.
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And the second wicket falls
After taking that catch, Axar Patel returns to the attack and strikes immediately. Usman Khan departs for just three, caught by Shreyas Iyer at mid-wicket.
Pakistan are 36/2 after five overs.
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Skipper Farhan sent back
Washington Sundar comes into the attack and is immediately hit for two fours. But he strikes soon after, dismissing Sahibzada Farhan, who is caught near the boundary by Axar Patel. Pakistan are 34/1
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Good over from Bumrah
Bumrah concedes just three runs from the over after an expensive opening over that went for 11.
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Pakistan 21/0
Axar Patel comes into the attack, but Sadaqat wastes no time taking him on, smashing the third ball through for four. He charges down the track off the very next delivery, looking for another big hit, but settles for a single. Pakistan collect 10 runs from the over. -
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Two no-balls in the first over
Bumrah oversteps off his first delivery, but follows it up with two dot balls to Farhan. He then concedes another no-ball, and Sadaqat makes him pay with a four. A good start for Pakistan as 11 comes off it.
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Pakistan’s chase begins
Jasprit Bumrah, playing his 100th T20I, bowls the first over for India. Sadaqat and Farhan open the innings for Pakistan.
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Vice-captain does the job
Tilak Varma finishes in style, smashing Daniyal for two sixes to take India past the 200-run mark. He brings up his fifty in the process as India finish on 211/6, setting Pakistan a target of 212.
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Dube sent back
A slower bouncer does the trick! Shivam Dube holes out to deep midwicket, where Maaz takes a superb catch.
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India turn up the heat
Just when Pakistan thought they had things under control, Shivam Dube and Tilak Varma turn up the heat! Dube smashes two sixes and a four off Saim Ayub in the 19th over, while Tilak adds another boundary. 23 runs come off the over, taking India to 193/5.
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A Tilak-tastic over
The 18th over belongs to Tilak Varma! He starts with a four before smashing back-to-back sixes off the final two balls. What an over for India!
India 172/5
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India bring up 150 in the 17th over
12 runs come from Abrar Ahmed’s final over. With three overs remaining, can India push towards 190?
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A boundary finally
After six overs without a boundary, India finally find the ropes. Tilak Varma ends the drought, placing the ball neatly into the boundary.
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15 overs up
India are 137/5 after 15 overs, with their current run rate down to 9.09. They have managed just 24 runs for two wickets in the last five overs. Two new batters, Tilak Varma and Shivam Dube, are now at the crease.
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Indian Captain departs
Abrar Ahmed returns and strikes! Shreyas Iyer drills one straight to cover, where Sahibzada Farhan takes a sharp catch. A big wicket for Pakistan, and the momentum is shifting their way.
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Pakistan strike again
Ishan Kishan is gone for 20. Minhas bags his second wicket of the day. India 128/4.
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Pakistan keep it tight
An economical over from Sufiyan Moqim, with just four runs coming from it. India’s run rate dips slightly to 10.33.
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India 120/3 after 11 overs
Saad Masood returns after conceding 24 in his first over. He starts short and wide, and Kishan cuts it through the covers for four. A big LBW appeal follows against Shreyas as he attempts a reverse sweep, but it’s turned down.
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Runs keep coming
Sufiyan Muqeem comes on for the first time today, but Kishan welcomes him with a pull for four off a short ball. He concedes another boundary soon after, with a short and wide delivery cut away for four by Shreyas.
India move to 114/3.
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India bring up their 100 in style!
Ishan Kishan gets off the mark with a four off the first ball of the eighth over before finding the boundary again off the final delivery.
India are now 103/3 after nine overs.
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Wicket! Abhishek Sharma out!
Minhas comes back for his second over and Abhishek starts with a six, stepping down the track and launching the ball over wide long-on.
But he falls trying the same shot off the very next delivery after the opener misses and is comfortably stumped by Khan.
India are 93/3
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A quiet over for Pakistan
Abrar Ahmed gives away just four runs from the over after Pakistan were taken for plenty in the previous overs.
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Powerplay ends with a bang!
Pakistan miss a golden opportunity to dismiss Abhishek Sharma, who is well out of his crease. Ahmed Daniyal’s throw misses the stumps, with the wicketkeeper also out of position. A direct hit would have sent Abhishek packing. Instead, the opener makes Pakistan pay, smashing Daniyal for a six off the final ball of the powerplay to bring up a blistering 50 off just 20 balls! India end the powerplay on 81/2
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Abhishek, the six-hitting machine!
Another maximum from Abhishek Sharma! He has now smashed seven sixes and three fours, and is closing in on his half-century.
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Back-to-back dropped catches!
A huge sigh of relief for India! Abhishek Sharma is dropped at deep mid-wicket on 39. Moments later, Shreyas Iyer gets a similar reprieve as another chance goes down.
India are 63/2 after five overs.
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No stopping Abhishek Sharma
Pakistan turn to Abrar Ahmed, but Abhishek is in no mood to slow down, smashing the spinner for yet another six.
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WICKET! Samson walks back
Sanju Samson departs for two. He tries to clear mid-on off a length delivery, but gets a leading edge off the higher part of the bat and finds the fielder. Shreyas Iyer comes to the crease.
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India bring up 50!
Pakistan turn to pacer Ahmed Daniyal, but Abhishek Sharma greets him with another six, sending the ball over the fence. India reach the 50-run mark in 3.2 overs.
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Abhishek keeps the boundaries coming
Sanju Samson joins Abhishek Sharma at the crease, and Abhishek continues his onslaught! The opener finishes the third over with 6, 4, 4 off the final three balls as India race to 43/1 after three overs.
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Sooryavanshi gone
Pakistan have their first breakthrough, and it’s a big wicket! India’s teenage batting sensation Sooryavanshi attempts a reverse sweep against Saim Ayub but edges it through to wicketkeeper Usman Khan. He departs for 15.
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Massive over for India!
A whopping 24 runs come off the over as India race to 28/0 after two overs.
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ANOTHER SIX
Third six of the over. Abhishek Sharma belts it over mid-on for another maximum, and the Indian fans are loving every bit of it.
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Back-to-back sixes for Sooryavanshi!
15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi takes on Saad Masood, smashing him for two sixes in a row.
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India off the mark
Spinner Saim Ayub bowls a wide as India open their account. Sooryavanshi then gets off the mark, watchfully working the ball off his hip for a single. -
Here we go!
The pre-match formalities are done, and we’re all set for the action to begin. India are ready to open their innings, with Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and Abhishek Sharma walking out to bat.
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Almost time!
India and Pakistan players walk out for the gold-medal clash. The national anthems are now being played.
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India vs Pakistan T20 head-to-head
India lead the T20 head-to-head 14-3 in 17 meetings against Pakistan. They have also won their last six encounters, with Pakistan’s most recent victory coming in 2022.
The rivals last met at this year’s T20 World Cup in Colombo, where Ishan Kishan’s 77 guided India to a comfortable win.
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Pakistan playing XI
Sahibzada Farhan (c), Maaz Sadaqat, Usman Khan, Saim Ayub, Hasan Nawaz, Abdul Samad, Arafat Minhas, Ahmed Daniyal, Mohammad Wasim, Sufiyan Moqim, Abrar Ahmed.
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India names unchanged XI
Abhishek Sharma, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Sanju Samson, Shreyas Iyer (c), Ishan Kishan, Tilak Varma, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Ravi Bishnoi, Jasprit Bumrah.
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India to bat first
India have opted to bat first against Pakistan. And there’s no handshake between the two sides at the toss.
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