India beat Pakistan to clinch the gold medal in the men's cricket final at the Asian Games on Saturday, capping their campaign with a victory in one of the most anticipated clashes of the Games.
India, sent in to bat after losing the toss, posted 211/6 in 20 overs, setting Pakistan a challenging target in the gold-medal match.
Abhishek Sharma provided India with an explosive start, smashing 61 off 28 balls before Pakistan managed to break the opening partnership. His innings was studded with boundaries and sixes and gave India the momentum they needed in the powerplay.
India did lose wickets in the middle overs, but Tilak Varma ensured the innings finished strongly. Tilak remained unbeaten on 51 off 22 balls, while Shivam Dube chipped in with 27 off 15 balls as India added 46 runs in the final three overs.
The late surge took India beyond the 200-run mark and gave their bowlers a substantial total to defend.
Pakistan's chase then came under pressure as India's bowlers struck at regular intervals. India kept the asking rate under pressure and prevented Pakistan from building the sustained partnership it needed to overhaul the target.
Pakistan, however, made India sweat in the chase. Hasan Nawaz launched a spectacular counterattack, keeping Pakistan in the contest with a blistering knock. He reached 96 off 51 balls, before SHivam Dube got him in the 20th over, taking the Indian attack apart as Pakistan raced towards the 212-run target.
His assault turned what had looked like a comfortable Indian position into a tense finish. Pakistan kept the required rate within reach deep into the innings, with Nawaz continuing to find boundaries and putting India under sustained pressure.
Nawaz's innings gave Pakistan hope of pulling off a remarkable chase after India had posted 211/6. India eventually held their nerve in the closing stages to secure the gold medal.
The gold-medal match marked a high-profile meeting between the neighbours at the Asian Games, with the contest drawing a large crowd and significant attention from Indian and Pakistani fans.
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For India, the gold adds another Asian Games cricket title to the country's record. India won the men's T20 gold at the 2023 Hangzhou Asian Games, where the final against Afghanistan was washed out after rain prevented a result.
The victory also caps a strong tournament for India's men's cricket team, which entered the competition with a squad featuring several established T20 names alongside younger players.
Abhishek's innings was among the standout performances of the final. The young opener had already made headlines during the tournament for his aggressive batting and six-hitting, and he again provided India with the fast start that set the tone for the innings.
Tilak then took over the acceleration in the second half, finding the boundary regularly and ensuring India did not lose momentum despite the fall of wickets.
The result gives India the men's cricket gold medal at the Asian Games, while Pakistan take silver.
