SRINAGAR: India defeated Pakistan by 19 runs in the men’s cricket gold-medal match at the Asian Games 2026 on Saturday to retain the title.
India, the defending champions, posted 211 for six after being sent in to bat, with Abhishek Sharma smashing 61 off 28 balls before Tilak Varma produced a late assault with an unbeaten 51 off 22 deliveries.
The Indian batting effort gave the bowlers a substantial total to defend, and they held their nerve against Pakistan to seal the gold medal in the summit clash at Korogi Sports Park in Nisshin.
Abhishek provided the initial impetus with an explosive half-century, while Varma took charge towards the end of the innings. Varma and Shivam Dube added 62 runs for the sixth wicket, with Dube contributing 27 off 15 balls.
Varma remained unbeaten on 51, hitting three fours and four sixes, while Abhishek’s 61 included three fours and seven sixes.
The victory sees India retain the Asian Games men’s cricket gold after they also won the title at the previous edition in Hangzhou in 2023. India had entered the Nisshin final as defending champions after beating Sri Lanka by 124 runs in the semi-final, while Pakistan had defeated Bangladesh by six wickets to reach the title clash.
The final marked the first Asian Games men’s cricket gold-medal clash between India and Pakistan, adding another chapter to the long-standing sporting rivalry between the two sides.
