Shreyas Iyer’s Team Defends Title With 19-Run Victory in Nagoya Final
Nisshin, Japan October 03, 2026: India clinched the men’s cricket gold medal at the Asian Games 2026 after defeating Pakistan by 19 runs in the final at Korogi Sports Park, Nisshin. The victory secured India’s second consecutive Asian Games gold medal in men’s cricket, following their triumph at the Hangzhou 2023 Games.
Batting first after winning the toss, India posted 211 for 6 in 20 overs, with opener Abhishek Sharma scoring 61 runs to provide India with a strong start. Sharma struck three fours and seven sixes during his aggressive innings. Captain Shreyas Iyer contributed 21, while Ishan Kishan made 20.
India then received a late-innings boost from Tilak Varma, who remained unbeaten on 51 off just 22 deliveries, helping the team cross the 200-run mark and finish on 211/6.
Chasing 212 for gold, Pakistan struggled to maintain the required scoring rate despite a spectacular innings from Hasan Nawaz. The Pakistan batter smashed 96 off 51 balls, but wickets at the other end prevented Pakistan from completing the chase. Pakistan eventually finished at 192 for 6 in 20 overs, falling 19 runs short.
For India, Shivam Dube claimed two wickets for 33 runs, helping the bowling attack restrict Pakistan during the closing stages of the chase.
The gold medal adds another major achievement to India’s 2026 cricket campaign. India had entered the Asian Games as defending champions and successfully retained the men’s cricket title in Japan. Pakistan took the silver medal, while Sri Lanka secured bronze after defeating Bangladesh in the third-place playoff.
Final Score
India: 211/6 (20 overs)
Pakistan: 192/6 (20 overs)
India won by: 19 runs
🏆 India — Gold
🥈 Pakistan — Silver
🥉 Sri Lanka — Bronze
