India secured another Asian Games gold medal in men’s cricket after defeating Pakistan by 19 runs in a tense and thrilling final at Korogi Sports Park in Nisshin, Japan. This victory marks India’s retention of their title and further cements their dominance over Pakistan in T20 internationals.
Opting to bat first, India posted an impressive total of 211/6, thanks to a rapid start by opener Abhishek Sharma and a crucial late innings from Tilak Varma. Abhishek hit a blistering half-century, propelling India to their highest Powerplay score against Pakistan in T20Is at 81/2. Despite a mid-innings fightback by Pakistan’s bowlers Arafat Minhas, Ahmed Daniyal, and Abrar Ahmed, who took key wickets, India managed to regain momentum.
Tilak Varma’s unbeaten 51 off 22 balls, alongside Shivam Dube’s 27, pushed India past the 200-run mark. Their 62-run partnership set a challenging target for Pakistan, who needed 212 runs to win.
Pakistan’s response was strong, led by Hasan Nawaz, who scored an unbeaten 96 off 51 balls. His partnership with Saim Ayub added 87 runs, placing considerable pressure on India. However, India’s bowlers managed to regain control, with Washington Sundar delivering a decisive 18th over and Jasprit Bumrah tightening the game in the penultimate over.
Facing a daunting 33 runs required off the final over, Pakistan fell short as Shivam Dube successfully defended the target, ensuring India’s 19-run victory.
This win not only secured the gold medal for India but also extended their record of success against Pakistan in the T20 format, showcasing their prowess in the sport at the Asian Games.