In the Asian Games men’s cricket final, Pakistan need 136 runs from the last 10 overs to beat India, who posted a total of 211 for six. After losing three early wickets, Pakistan reached 76 for three at the halfway mark with Hasan Nawaz scoring an unbeaten 26 off 18 balls and Saim Ayub not out on 12 off nine. India’s innings featured Tilak Varma's unbeaten 51 off 22 balls and Shivam Dube's late hitting of 27 off 15, helping them score 114 runs in the first ten overs before adding another 97 later in their innings.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-10-03,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
In the Asian Games men's cricket final held at Korogi Sports Park in Nisshin, Japan, India defeated Pakistan by posting a formidable total of 211-6. After winning the toss and opting to bat first, India received a blistering start with Abhishek Sharma scoring an explosive half-century (61 off 28 balls) before falling to Arafat Minhas in the eighth over. Despite losing two quick wickets after the powerplay, late contributions from Tilak Varma and Shivam Dube lifted India's score significantly. Varma finished unbeaten on 51 off 22 balls with three fours and four sixes, while Dube contributed 27 off 15 balls including two fours and two sixes in a crucial sixth-wicket partnership of 62 runs from 31 deliveries. Pakistan’s bowlers managed to restrict India's scoring rate after the initial surge but conceded a total that proved challenging to chase. Defending champions India, led by captain Shreyas Iyer, successfully defended their title while Pakistan missed out on their first gold medal in men’s cricket at the Asian Games. Pakistan’s spinners Abrar Ahmed and Sufyan Moqim performed admirably, with Ahmed picking up two wickets for 43 runs from three overs. Arafat Minhas was also effective, taking two for 25 runs. Despite a strong performance by their bowlers, Pakistan could not overcome India's dominant batting display.
Written for “India Pakistan Asian Games Cricket Final” on 2026-10-04,
grounded in this article and the 14 other(s) covering the same event.
Pakistan need 136 runs from the final 10 overs to win the Asian Games men’s cricket final after reaching 76 for three at the halfway stage of their chase of India’s 212 on Saturday.
asserted
Pakistan → need → Saturday
Hasan Nawaz was beginning to find his range, hitting three sixes in an unbeaten 26 off 18 balls, while Saim Ayub was not out on 12 off nine as Pakistan sought to keep their chase alive.
asserted
Pakistan → begin → chase
Pakistan had been 39 for three after the dismissal of Maaz Sadaqat at the start of the seventh over, but Nawaz and Ayub put on 34 from 23 balls to give the chase some momentum.
asserted
Nawaz → put → momentum
Sadaqat had earlier provided the main resistance after Pakistan lost Sahibzada Farhan and Usman Khan in successive overs.
asserted
Pakistan → provide → overs
He made 23 off 18 balls, with three fours, before being caught by Washington Sundar off Axar Patel.
asserted
He → make → Patel
Nawaz then struck two sixes in the ninth over against Abhishek Sharma and another two in the following over from Ravi Bishnoi as Pakistan reached 76 for three after 10 overs.
asserted
Pakistan → strike → overs
They require 13.60 runs an over from the remaining 60 balls.
asserted
They → require → balls
Pakistan had made a brisk start to the chase, reaching 21 without loss after two overs, but lost Farhan for 10 off 11 in the fourth over.
asserted
Pakistan → make → over
The captain attempted a slog-sweep against Washington and was caught by Axar at deep midwicket.
asserted
captain → attempt → midwicket
Usman, who made three off six balls, followed in the next over when he attempted to slog a fuller delivery from Axar and was caught by Shivam Dube at midwicket.
asserted
he → make → midwicket
Sadaqat and Hasan Nawaz then steadied the innings before Sadaqat’s dismissal left Pakistan 39 for three at the end of the sixth over.
asserted
dismissal → steady → over
Axar had taken two wickets for 15 runs from three overs, while Washington had one for 13 from two.
asserted
Washington → take → two
Ravi Bishnoi had conceded 24 in his two overs without taking a wicket.
asserted
Bishnoi → concede → wicket
Earlier, India posted 211 for six after being asked to bat first, with Tilak Varma producing an unbeaten 51 off 22 balls and Shivam Dube supplying the late impetus with 27 off 15.
asserted
Dube → post → 15
The pair added 62 from 31 balls for the sixth wicket to propel India beyond 200 after Pakistan had made regular breakthroughs through the middle overs.
asserted
Pakistan → add → overs
Abhishek Sharma gave India a flying start, scoring 61 off 28 balls with three fours and seven sixes.
asserted
Sharma → give → fours
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi contributed 15 off nine before falling to Saim Ayub, while Sanju Samson was dismissed for two by Ahmed Daniyal.
asserted
Samson → contribute → Daniyal
India were 81 for two after the six-over powerplay, with Abhishek having already reached his half-century.
asserted
Abhishek → reach → century
Pakistan, however, managed to slow the scoring rate and picked up further wickets as the innings progressed.
asserted
innings → manage → wickets
Shreyas Iyer made 21 off 24 balls before becoming the fifth wicket at 133 in the 15th over, while Ishan Kishan scored 20 off 18.
asserted
Kishan → make → 18
With India five down and 77 runs still required to reach 200, Tilak and Dube launched the decisive assault.
asserted
Tilak → require → assault
Tilak reached his half-century from 21 balls and finished unbeaten with three fours and four sixes.
asserted
Tilak → reach → fours
Dube hit two fours and two sixes before being dismissed by Ahmed Daniyal in the first ball of the final over.
asserted
Dube → hit → over
India scored 114 runs in the first 10 overs and added another 97 in the second half, with the final three overs bringing 57 runs.
asserted
overs → score → runs
Tilak and Dube’s partnership accounted for much of the late acceleration, while Axar Patel remained unbeaten on one off one ball.
asserted
Patel → account → ball
Pakistan’s bowling figures were led by Arafat Minhas, who took two wickets for 25 runs from three overs, and Ahmed Daniyal, who claimed two for 43.
asserted
who → lead → 43
Abrar Ahmed took one for 29 and Saim Ayub one for 47, while Saad Masood and Sufyan Moqim went wicketless.
asserted
Masood → take → 47
Pakistan also conceded 13 extras, including 11 wides, as India finished on their highest total of the match.
asserted
India → concede → match
India’s total left Pakistan needing 212 for the gold medal, with the defending champions seeking to retain the title they won at the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou.
asserted
they → leave → Hangzhou
Pakistan are pursuing their first men’s cricket gold at the Asian Games.
asserted
Pakistan → pursue → Games
The Aporia
