India beats Pakistan by 19 runs to defend Asian Games cricket gold

India defeated Pakistan by 19 runs in the Asian Games men’s cricket final to retain their gold medal. Abhishek Sharma hit a record 20-ball fifty and Tilak Varma added a 21-ball half-century before India defended 211/6.

Nisshin: Lone warrior Hasan Nawaz kept Pakistan alive with his unbeaten 96 off 51 deliveries but it wasn’t enough as India clinched a dominant 19 runs victory to defend their gold medal in the Asian Games men’s cricket final match at Korogi Sports Park on Saturday.

Spin duo of Washington Sundar and Axar Patel clinched two wickets each as Shivam Dube in the later part of the run chase clinched two dominant wicket too to help India beat Pakistan.

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Earlier, Abhishek Sharma smashed the fastest fifty by an Indian against Pakistan in T20Is before Tilak Varma produced a blazing late assault as India overcame a sluggish surface to post 211/6 in 20 overs.

Abhishek reached his fifty in just 20 deliveries, bettering his own 24-ball effort against Pakistan in Dubai in 2025, while Tilak followed with a 21-ball fifty as the duo took India through contrasting phases of the innings.

Abhishek eventually made 61 off 28 balls, with three fours and seven sixes, while Tilak and Shivam Dube added 62 runs for the sixth wicket to give India a strong finish.

Brief scores: India 211/6 in 20 overs (Abhishek Sharma 61, Tilak Varma 51 not out; Arafat Minhas 2-25, Ahmed Daniyal 2-43) beat Pakistan in 20 overs (Hasan Nawaz 96, Saim Ayub 29; Washington Sundar 2-29, Axar Patel 2-29) by 19 runs.