'Solid win vs Pakistan yet again' — Irfan Pathan celebrates India's gold medal at Asian Games 2026

India claimed the men's cricket gold medal at the Asian Games 2026 on October 3, 2026, defeating Pakistan by 19 runs in the final at Korogi Athletic Park, Nisshin, in the Aichi Nagoya region of Japan. Captain Shreyas Iyer won the toss and elected to bat first, and India posted 211/6 in their 20 overs. Pakistan were set a target of 212 and were restricted to 192/6 in reply, falling 19 runs short.

Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan took to his official X account to mark the occasion and express his happiness.

Pathan wrote: "GOLD it is for Team India. Solid win vs Pakistan yet again. Saturday ho ya Sunday har roz apne hi funde," capturing the mood around India's dominant performance in the final.

How India set up their gold medal win

Abhishek Sharma top-scored for India with 61, while Tilak Varma contributed 51. The two batters built the foundation for a competitive total, and their partnership gave India the platform to reach 211/6 across their 20 overs. Jasprit Bumrah bowled the opening spell with the ball as India looked to make early inroads into Pakistan's batting lineup.

Pakistan's chase was kept alive largely by Hasan Nawaz, who scored 94 runs but could not carry his side over the line. Axar Patel and Washington Sundar dismantled Pakistan's top order. Shivam Dube also bowled well with the ball after chipping in with a crucial 27 with the bat.

Hasan Nawaz's lone fight and India's bowling effort

The final wicket arrived on the last ball of the match. Shivam Dube bowled Hasan Nawaz with a slower bouncer that was caught by wicketkeeper Sanju Samson, ending Pakistan's innings at 192/6 and confirming India's 19-run victory.

The result meant India retained the Asian Games men's cricket gold medal. At the previous edition, the 2022 Asian Games held in Hangzhou and played in October 2023, India had also won the gold after the rain-affected T20 final against Afghanistan was decided on ICC rankings, with India ranked number one in T20Is at the time. The 2026 triumph was a more straightforward title defence, settled on the field against Pakistan in a full 20-over contest.