India beat Pakistan by 19 runs to win back-to-back Asian Games gold
Abhishek Sharma's 61 off 28 and Tilak Varma's unbeaten 51 powered India to 211, and the spinners held off a brilliant 96 from Hasan Nawaz in the final in Nisshin.
India are Asian Games champions again. Shreyas Iyer's side beat Pakistan by 19 runs in the men's cricket final at Korogi Sports Park in Nisshin, Japan, on Saturday, adding to the gold they won at Hangzhou in 2023.
India made 211 for 6 after choosing to bat, and then held Pakistan to 192 for 6 despite a superb 96 from Hasan Nawaz.
India vs Pakistan Asian Games final: the scores
- India 211/6 in 20 overs: Abhishek Sharma 61 (28), Tilak Varma 51* (22), Shivam Dube 27 (15)
- Pakistan 192/6 in 20 overs: Hasan Nawaz 96 (51), Saim Ayub 29 (22)
- Result: India won by 19 runs
Abhishek Sharma sets the tone
Iyer won the toss and chose to bat, and Abhishek Sharma made sure it paid off. The left-hander smashed 61 off 28 balls with three fours and seven sixes, taking Pakistan's attack apart before Arafat Minhas had him stumped by Usman Khan.
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi hit two sixes in a quick 15 off 9 before falling to Saim Ayub, and Sanju Samson went cheaply for 2. Iyer (21 off 24) and Ishan Kishan (20 off 18) kept things moving. For Pakistan, Minhas (2 for 25) and Abrar Ahmed (1 for 29 from four overs) the pick of their bowlers.
Tilak Varma's late assault
Tilak Varma made sure India finished with a total worthy of a final. He hit an unbeaten 51 off just 22 balls, with three fours and four sixes, and added quick runs with Shivam Dube, who made 27 off 15. India scored 211, a big total under pressure in a gold medal match.
Hasan Nawaz's 96 keeps Pakistan in it
Pakistan's chase started badly. Washington Sundar removed captain Sahibzada Farhan for 10, and Axar Patel struck twice, getting Maaz Sadaqat (23) and Usman Khan (3).
Hasan Nawaz then played the innings of the match. He hit 96 off 51 balls with five fours and seven sixes, and with Saim Ayub (29) he kept Pakistan in the hunt for most of the chase. Shivam Dube finally had him caught behind by Samson, four short of a hundred. Dube also removed Ayub, and Sundar had Abdul Samad caught by Tilak for 9.
Saad Masood hit two late sixes in 12 not out off 5 balls, but Pakistan finished on 192 for 6, 19 runs short.
India's bowlers: spin wins the final
On a day when the ball flew to all parts, India's spinners made the difference:
- Axar Patel: 4-0-29-2
- Washington Sundar: 4-0-29-2
- Shivam Dube: 3-0-33-2
Jasprit Bumrah went wicketless this time (0 for 33 from four overs), and Ravi Bishnoi conceded 44 from three, but Axar and Sundar's eight overs for 58 runs and four wickets were the heart of the defence.
Back-to-back Asian Games gold
This is India's second Asian Games cricket gold in a row, after Hangzhou 2023, and it came in the first meeting between India and Pakistan in Asian Games cricket.
It's also a good day for the young players in this squad. Abhishek, Tilak and Dube all delivered in a final, Ishan Kishan carried the team in the semi-final, and 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi now has an Asian Games gold medal.
What's next for India
The focus now moves to the senior side, with the third ODI against West Indies and then the T20I series. Check tryball.in for India's full schedule, IST start times and where to watch every match.