India won the Asian Games men’s cricket gold on Saturday, beating Pakistan by 19 runs in a final with plenty to talk about beyond the scores.
While the customary handshake was missing before the first ball. Then came a celebration that drew a lot of attention, before Abhishek Sharma responded with the bat.
A missing handshake
It all began at the toss at Korogi Sports Park in Nisshin, where Shreyas Iyer and Sahibzada Farhan did not shake hands before India opted to bat. The missing greeting followed the pattern seen in India-Pakistan cricket meetings since the 2025 Asia Cup..
Elsewhere at these Games, the exchanges have been warmer. Indian and Pakistani table-tennis players shook hands after their matches. Their hockey counterparts also exchanged greetings following their semifinal.
Ayub’s gesture, Abhishek’s boundaries
Indian starlet Vaibhav Sooryavanshi hit two sixes off nine balls before falling to Saim Ayub. But the spinner then made a gesture resembling someone cradling a baby, which could be interpreted as mocking the 15-year-old opener. But cricket has a strange way of delivering instant Karma.
It was not long before senior southpaw Abhishek took on Ayub in the same over, hitting two fours and a six. Attention quickly shifted from the celebration to the bowling. Abhishek went on to make 61 off 28 balls, with three fours and seven sixes. He reached his half-century in 20 deliveries, helping India finish the powerplay at 81 for two.
Pakistan’s short deliveries prove costly
Pakistan too often bowled short, giving India’s batters opportunities to attack. When they found better lengths, scoring was less straightforward and that was evident as India’s innings slowed after the early assault. They were 114 for three after 10 overs and reached 150 in the 17th. Tilak Varma and Shivam Dube then supplied the late acceleration. Tilak finished unbeaten on 51 off 22 balls, while Dube made 27 off 15. Their sixth-wicket partnership reached 50 in 25 deliveries, helping India close on 211 for six.
Hasan’s fightback falls short
Pakistan got off to a decent start, reaching 39 for two in the powerplay, well short of India’s scoring rate at the same stage. They were 76 for three after 10 overs. But Hasan Nawaz, fighting like a lone warrior, revived the chase and proved why he belongs at number four, reaching his half-century off 28 balls with five sixes.
Pakistan also brought up 150 in the 17th over, keeping the contest alive despite the demanding target. Hasan ended with a valiant 96 off 51 balls, with five fours and seven sixes, before falling to Shivam Dube. Pakistan ultimately finished on 192 for six to settle for silver. Ayub contributed 29 off 22, while Saad Masood remained unbeaten on 12 off five.
Axar Patel, Washington Sundar and Dube took two wickets each. Axar removed Maaz Sadaqat and Usman Khan, while Sundar dismissed Sahibzada Farhan and Abdul Samad. Jasprit Bumrah finished without a wicket.