India defeats Pakistan by 19 runs to win Asian Games cricket gold

The Indian men's cricket team secured the gold medal at the Asian Games in Nagoya after defeating rivals Pakistan by 19 runs in the final.

India posted a total of 211-6 after being sent in to bat at the Korogi Park Athletic Stadium. Abhishek Sharma led the scoring with 61 runs off 28 balls, including seven sixes, while Tilak Varma contributed an unbeaten 51 from 22 deliveries. Al Jazeera reported that the innings was bolstered by a late 62-run partnership between Varma and Shivam Dube after India had been restricted to 133-5 in the 15th over.

Pakistan's response was led by Hasan Nawaz, who scored 96 runs but fell to the final ball of the match. BBC Sport noted that while Nawaz hit seven sixes in a defiant performance, he lacked support as the team slipped to 39-3 early in the chase. Pakistan finished their 20 overs on 192-6. The wickets were shared among Indian bowlers, with Axar Patel and Washington Sundar both taking 2-29, and Shivam Dube taking 2-33.

The match was characterized by high tension, with Al Jazeera reporting that the captains refused to shake hands before and after the game. The medal ceremony faced a significant delay before ICC chairman Jay Shah presented medals to the Indian players. In a change to the expected proceedings, Pakistan and bronze medallists Sri Lanka were presented with their medals by Asian Games officials rather than Shah.

Captain Shreyas Iyer told Cricinfo that the team showed the attitude of champions by not making excuses regarding the rain or playing conditions. Reuters reported that the victory completed a cricket double for India at the Games. The final was held on a converted baseball field in front of a small but loud crowd in Japan.

Background

India entered the tournament as defending champions, having won gold four years ago in Hangzhou, China, during the debut of the men's competition.