India beat Pakistan by 19 runs to retain men's T20 cricket gold at Asian Games 2026

Abhishek Sharma and Tilak Varma power India to 211/6

India opted to bat after winning the toss in the men's T20 final at Korogi Sports Park in Nisshin, Japan, on October 3 and posted 211/6 in their 20 overs. Abhishek Sharma set the tempo with 61 off 28 balls, reaching his fifty in 20 deliveries as India raced to 81/2 in the powerplay — their highest against Pakistan in T20Is — before Tilak Varma finished the innings unbeaten on 51 off 22 balls, with Shivam Dube chipping in 27 off 15 as India took 46 runs off the final three overs. Pakistan's Ahmed Daniyal and Arafat Minhas picked up two wickets each, with opener Vaibhav Sooryavanshi (15) and Sanju Samson (2) falling early for India.

Pakistan's chase stalls after Powerplay wobble

Pakistan slipped to 31/3 by the end of the powerplay as India's spinners applied pressure, with the middle order unable to break free in the early overs of the chase. The innings briefly steadied when Saim Ayub joined Hasan Nawaz, the latter taking the attack back to the Indian bowlers to revive Pakistan's pursuit of 212 and keep the gold-medal contest alive into the final over.

Hasan Nawaz's 96 keeps Pakistan in the hunt until the last ball

Nawaz's 51-ball knock of 96 — reported variously as 96 off 51 and as a 95 — featured seven sixes and five fours and dragged Pakistan back into a chase that had looked headed for a heavy defeat. His assault came too late, however: Shivam Dube dismissed him off the final ball of the match, with Jasprit Bumrah also delivering an important 19th-over spell, as Pakistan closed on 192/6 to fall 19 runs short.

India retain gold, Pakistan take silver

The result gave India their second consecutive men's T20 cricket gold at the Asian Games, defending the title won in Hangzhou in 2023 under then-captain Ruturaj Gaikwad. It also stretched India's head-to-head T20I run against Pakistan to seven consecutive wins. Pakistan finished with silver, while the victory moved India to fifth in the Asian Games 2026 medal table. Sources differ on Nawaz's final score, with most reporting 96 off 51 balls and one outlet listing 95.