Indian cricketers clinch historic double gold defeating rival Pakistan
Indian men secured a historic double gold in cricket by defeating Pakistan by 19 runs during a high-scoring final at the Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya.
Shreyas Iyer led his squad to defend a commanding total of 211, bringing India’s overall medal tally to 81, including 19 golds. Harmanpreet Kaur earlier guided the women’s team to victory over Sri Lanka by 147 runs, completing a rare and remarkable sweep across both cricket categories at this multi-sport tournament.
Opening batters launched a relentless attack early in the match, scoring 24 runs in just the second over against spinner Saad Masood. Abhishek Sharma hit a blistering 61 off 28 balls, striking seven sixes and three boundaries. His aggressive approach helped India reach 81 for the loss of two wickets by the end of the powerplay. This remarkable start surpassed India’s previous best six-over score of 69 against Pakistan during the 2025 Asia Cup. Tilak Varma accelerated the innings further in the final overs, remaining unbeaten with a rapid 51 off 22 deliveries. Shivam Dube contributed a vital 27 off 15 balls, pushing the final score to an imposing 211 for 6.
Chasing 212, Pakistan faced immediate pressure as Washington Sundar and Axar Patel claimed crucial early wickets. Axar dismissed Usman Khan and Maaz Sadaqat quickly, leaving the opposition struggling at 39 for 3 inside seven overs. Hasan Nawaz launched a fierce counterattack, scoring a brave 96 off 51 balls featuring seven sixes. He built an 87-run partnership with Saim Ayub, threatening to shift the momentum completely. Shivam Dube eventually broke this dangerous stand by removing Ayub for 29. Washington Sundar maintained tight control during the final overs, ending the match with exceptional figures of 2 for 29. Pakistan concluded their innings at 192 for 6, securing the silver medal while India celebrated ultimate glory on the podium.