India defeats Pakistan to win Asian Games cricket gold

India successfully defended their men’s T20 cricket title at the 2026 Asian Games, defeating arch-rivals Pakistan by 19 runs in the final held at Korogi Sports Park in Nisshin, Japan.

Batting first, India posted a total of 211/6, fueled by Abhishek Sharma’s 61 off 28 balls and an unbeaten 51 off 22 balls from Tilak Varma. In response, Pakistan reached 192/6, despite a high-scoring 96 from Hasan Nawaz. Shivam Dube contributed significantly to the defense, scoring 27 runs and taking two crucial wickets.

Following the victory, head coach VVS Laxman praised the team’s composure under pressure. Players Abhishek Sharma and Shivam Dube expressed pride in representing the nation, while former cricketer Ravichandran Ashwin defended Tilak Varma’s performance against critics. Actress Urvashi Rautela was also in attendance to witness the high-profile match.