India vs Pakistan, Asian Games final: gold on the line as India chase back-to-back titles
Defending champions India meet Pakistan for the men's cricket gold in Nisshin, Japan. Start time, where to watch, team news, key players and how both sides got here.
It doesn't get bigger than this. India and Pakistan meet in the men's cricket final at the Asian Games at Korogi Sports Park in Nisshin, Japan, on Saturday, 3 October, with the gold medal on the line.
India won gold at Hangzhou in 2023 and are chasing back-to-back titles. Pakistan are looking for their first Asian Games cricket gold.
India vs Pakistan Asian Games final: time and where to watch
- Date: Saturday, 3 October 2026
- Start: 10:00 AM IST (toss at 9:30 AM IST)
- Venue: Korogi Sports Park, Nisshin, Japan
- TV: Sony Sports Network
- Live streaming: SonyLIV app and website
How India reached the final
India's quarter-final against Afghanistan was washed out without a ball bowled, and they went through as the higher seed. They made up for it in the semi-final, crushing Sri Lanka by 124 runs.
Ishan Kishan's unbeaten 80 off 46 balls carried India to 169 for 7, and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi gave them a fast start with 38 off 21. The bowlers and fielders then bowled Sri Lanka out for 45 in 9.5 overs. Jasprit Bumrah took 2 for 7, Axar Patel 2 for 8, and India pulled off three run-outs.
How Pakistan reached the final
Pakistan's path was just as rain-hit. Their quarter-final was also abandoned, and they beat Bangladesh by six wickets in a shortened semi-final, chasing a revised target of 112 in 11.3 overs. Abdul Samad finished it with an unbeaten 30 off 15 balls, and Hasan Nawaz made 27 not out.
Team news
India are likely to stick with the XI that beat Sri Lanka, with Shreyas Iyer captaining a side that has Sooryavanshi and Abhishek Sharma opening and Sanju Samson keeping wicket.
Probable India XI: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson (wk), Shreyas Iyer (c), Ishan Kishan, Tilak Varma, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Ravi Bishnoi, Jasprit Bumrah.
Pakistan are led by Sahibzada Farhan, with Abdul Samad as vice-captain. Their squad includes Hasan Nawaz, Mohammad Haris, Khushdil Shah, Faheem Ashraf, Abbas Afridi, Shahnawaz Dahani, Sufiyan Muqeem and Usman Khan.
Key players to watch
- Ishan Kishan: in form after his 80* in the semi-final, when he held the innings together as wickets fell around him
- Vaibhav Sooryavanshi: the 15-year-old's start could decide the game inside the powerplay
- Jasprit Bumrah: Pakistan's top order has to survive his four overs, with the new ball and at the death
- Sahibzada Farhan: Pakistan's captain and their key top-order batter
- Abdul Samad: Pakistan's finisher, who won them the semi-final
India vs Pakistan: recent T20 record
India have had the better of Pakistan in recent T20 meetings, including three wins at the 2025 Asia Cup, the last of them in the final in Dubai. This is also the first time the two teams have met in Asian Games cricket.
Weather watch
Rain has already wiped out both quarter-finals in Nisshin, and the drainage and outfield have been a problem all tournament. Fans will be hoping for a clear afternoon so the gold medal is decided on the field.
Our prediction
India are the favourites. They have the stronger batting, a bowling attack led by Bumrah, and the momentum of that 124-run semi-final win. But it's India vs Pakistan in a final, and one big innings from Farhan or Samad could change everything.
Follow the live score and scorecard on TryBall.