India Beat Pakistan by 19 Runs to Retain Asian Games Men's Cricket Gold

India are Asian Games men's cricket champions for a second straight edition. Shreyas Iyer's side beat Pakistan by 19 runs in the gold-medal match at Korogi Sports Park in Nisshin on Saturday, posting 211 for 6 and then holding Pakistan to 192 for 6 despite a ferocious 96 from Hasan Nawaz. The win means both Indian cricket teams have now defended their titles in Aichi-Nagoya, after the women's side retained its gold earlier in the Games.

A record powerplay sets the tone

India chose to bat after winning the toss, and the opening overs were chaotic in the best possible way for them. Teenager Vaibhav Sooryavanshi hit three consecutive sixes in the first over from spinner Saad Masood, an over that cost Pakistan 24 runs once a no-ball and free hit were added. Sooryavanshi (15 off 9) and Sanju Samson (2) fell soon after, but Abhishek Sharma kept attacking.

Abhishek reached his half-century in 20 balls and finished with 61 off 28, with seven sixes. India were 81 for 2 at the end of the six-over powerplay, their highest powerplay score against Pakistan in a T20 international. Pakistan made it easier with several dropped catches and missed run-outs.

The middle overs were harder going. Iyer laboured to 21 off 24 on a slow, turning surface and Ishan Kishan was bowled for 20. Tilak Varma rebuilt the innings with an unbeaten 51, and Shivam Dube added a quick 27 off 15 to take India past 200.

Nawaz keeps Pakistan in the hunt

Chasing 212, Pakistan lost early wickets to Axar Patel, who removed Usman Khan for 3 and Maaz Sadaqat for 23. Saim Ayub (29 off 22) and Hasan Nawaz then added a quick fifty partnership, with Nawaz twice pulling Ravi Bishnoi for six. Dube broke the stand with his first ball, getting Ayub to miscue a scoop to Washington Sundar in the deep.

Nawaz kept going. He made 96 off 50 balls with seven sixes and five fours, and with three overs left Pakistan were still in the game. Sundar and Jasprit Bumrah then bowled two tight overs that pushed the required rate out of reach. Nawaz fell to the last ball of the innings, caught behind by Samson off Dube while trying to pull, four short of a century.

Axar was India's best bowler, taking 2 for 29 from his four overs.

What the result means

India have now won 15 of their 18 T20 internationals against Pakistan. The result also continues India's run in the cricket competition, which included bowling Sri Lanka out for 45 in the semi-final (see our earlier coverage).

The gold adds to a strong final weekend for India at Aichi-Nagoya. Earlier on Saturday, Kumkum Mohod won the women's individual recurve archery gold and Pranavi Urs took the women's individual golf title. The men's hockey team plays Malaysia in its final later in the day, with a Los Angeles 2028 Olympic quota at stake.

This is an original summary based on public reporting. See our editorial policy for how we source, write, and correct our stories.