India beat their fierce rivals Pakistan by 19 runs on Saturday to win Asian Games cricket gold after a pulsating final in front of a small but raucous crowd in Nagoya, Japan.
World T20 champions India posted 211-6 in their 20 overs with Abhishek Sharma scoring 61 and Tilak Varma 51 not out, before Hasan Nawaz's valiant 96 saw Pakistan come up just short at 192-6.
𝗚𝗢𝗟𝗗 𝗠𝗘𝗗𝗔𝗟𝗟𝗜𝗦𝗧𝗦 𝗔𝗚𝗔𝗜𝗡 🥇
— BCCI (@BCCI) October 3, 2026
Congratulations #TeamIndia for successfully defending the Asian Games Gold Medal 👏👏
Scorecard ▶️ https://t.co/g4wzZagyGj#AsianGames pic.twitter.com/sg7z4dhUzH
The neighbouring countries only meet in international tournaments and on neutral ground because of political tensions and the captains refused the normal handshakes before the match.
Afterwards, the jubilant India players paraded their national flag around the ground.
The clash on a converted baseball field in Japan was new ground for even these bitter enemies and their hundreds of millions of fans who were watching back home on TV.
After India chose to bat, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi announced his intention with back-to-back sixes in a second over from Saad Masood that cost 24 runs.
But the 15-year-old batting sensation fell four balls later for 15.
His opening partner Abhishek reached his fifty off 20 balls to a massive ovation from fans that had brought a touch of South Asia cricket fever to the Far East and Korogi Park Athletic Stadium.
India were aided by some sloppy Pakistan fielding that saw Abhishek dropped twice.
He should also have been run out on 46 when bowler Ahmed Daniyal's throw missed both stumps and wicketkeeper with Abhishek stranded.
Innings Break!
— BCCI (@BCCI) October 3, 2026
Superb contributions all through the order take #TeamIndia to 2️⃣1️⃣1️⃣/6 in the Gold Medal contest 💪
Over to our bowlers to defend 🎯
Scorecard ▶️ https://t.co/g4wzZagyGj#AsianGames pic.twitter.com/nfMkldToiV
After he went for 61, Ishan Kishan fell for 20 as the Pakistan bowlers began to regain control.
When captain Shreyas Iyer also departed soon after for 21, India had been pegged back to 133-5 in the 15th over.
But Tilak Varma hit four sixes and Shivam Dube (27) two more as the pair unleashed a late onslaught, putting on 62 in five overs for the sixth wicket as India soared past 200.
VALIANT HASAN
Pakistan's previous best score in T20 internationals batting second was 208-3 against Sri Lanka in Pallekele and they made a good start in search of their record chase.
Sahibzada Farhan (10) and Maaz Sadaqat put on 33 for the first wicket in 3.4 overs.
When Sadaqat went for 23 it seemed that they might fold easily.
Hasan had other ideas, and he began to pick up the pace and bounce of the pitch as he raced to a fifty off 28 balls with five sixes.
Hasan Nawaz smashes his third T20I half-century 🔥
— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) October 3, 2026
5️⃣ sixes in his innings so far 💪#PAKvIND | #BackTheBoysInGreen | #AsianGames pic.twitter.com/Y8BfBSyP5z
He was supported by Saim Ayub and their partnership grew to 87 before Dube struck.
He induced Ayub into a false shot with Washington Sundar gratefully grasping the chance running in from square leg to leave Pakistan 126-4 at the start of the 15th over.
Hasan ploughed on and Pakistan needed 52 off the last three overs when Sundar got Abdul Samad to hit to long-on.
At 168-5 with two overs left, India brought back Jasprit Bumrah and his over cost only 11 runs, leaving an improbable 33 off the final over, bowled by Dube.
Hasan reached 96 and fell off the last ball attempting one last big shot.
Hasan Nawaz fought till the end with an incredible innings of 96 🏏
— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) October 3, 2026
Pakistan finish with the silver medal at the #AsianGames#PAKvIND | #BackTheBoysInGreen pic.twitter.com/E0opf6hWNN
His brilliant knock came off 51 deliveries, with seven sixes and five fours.
Sri Lanka took the bronze medal after beating Bangladesh by 63 runs in the third-place playoff.
INDIA: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson (wk), Shreyas Iyer (capt), Ishan Kishan, Tilak Varma, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Ravi Bishnoi, Jasprit Bumrah.
PAKISTAN: Sahibzada Farhan (capt), Maaz Sadaqat, Usman Khan (wk), Saim Ayub, Hasan Nawaz, Abdul Samad, Arafat Minhas, Ahmed Daniyal, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Abrar Ahmed, Sufiyan Moqim.