Nisshin: India head coach VVS Laxman hailed the men’s cricket team’s successful Asian Games title defence as a “special” achievement after India defeated Pakistan by 19 runs in a dramatic final in Japan.
The victory gave India back-to-back Asian Games gold medals in men’s cricket and capped a memorable campaign for the team.
India, who won the men’s cricket gold at the 2023 Hangzhou Asian Games, produced another strong performance to retain their continental crown. The final against Pakistan went down to the last ball, with India eventually restricting their rivals to 192 for 6 after posting an imposing 211 for 6 in 20 overs.
Laxman said the achievement was particularly meaningful because several members of the squad were winning an Asian Games gold medal for the first time. While many players in the group have already experienced World Cup success, the coach noted that the Asian Games medal offered a different kind of honour.
Laxman calls title defence a special achievement
Speaking after India’s victory, Laxman expressed his happiness at the team’s ability to defend the gold medal.
The former India batter said retaining the title was “definitely special” and highlighted the pride felt by the players. He pointed out that India had won the gold in China two years earlier and had now repeated the achievement in Japan.
For Laxman, the significance extended beyond the result itself. Several members of the team had already won major international tournaments, but an Asian Games gold represented a new experience for many of them.
The coach also praised the team’s ability to remain united during a challenging campaign. Rain had affected the Indian team’s schedule after its arrival in Japan, with weather interruptions following the squad from Tokyo to the competition venue.
Despite those difficulties, Laxman said the players stayed together and performed well when it mattered most.
Abhishek Sharma sets up India’s big total
India’s victory was built on a powerful batting performance, led by opener Abhishek Sharma.
The left-hander produced an explosive 61 from just 28 deliveries, giving India a rapid start and putting Pakistan’s bowlers under immediate pressure. His innings included aggressive strokeplay and helped establish the momentum that India needed in the high-profile final.
Abhishek’s innings was particularly significant because it included the fastest fifty by an Indian against Pakistan in men’s T20 internationals, according to the report.
Although India lost wickets during the middle stages, the team’s batting depth allowed it to maintain the scoring rate.
Tilak Varma then played a crucial role in the closing stages. The left-hander remained unbeaten on 51 from 22 balls, providing the acceleration India needed to cross the 200-run mark.
Shivam Dube also contributed with a late burst, while the combined efforts of the batting unit helped India finish with 211 for 6 from their allotted 20 overs.
Pakistan fight back through Hasan Nawaz
Pakistan’s chase began under considerable pressure, but the contest remained alive because of a spectacular innings from Hasan Nawaz.
The Pakistan batter scored 96 from 51 balls and kept his team in contention deep into the second innings. His aggressive strokeplay threatened to change the direction of the match, particularly as Pakistan moved closer to India’s total.
India, however, continued to rely on its spinners and all-rounders to control the chase.
With the required rate increasing and the Pakistani middle order under pressure, India’s bowlers managed to keep the contest within their reach. The final stages became increasingly tense as Pakistan continued to chase the target.
Eventually, Pakistan finished on 192 for 6, 19 runs short of India’s total. Dube delivered the decisive moment by dismissing Hasan Nawaz with the final ball, triggering celebrations among the Indian players.
All-round effort helps India cross the line
Although Abhishek and Tilak provided the headline batting performances, Laxman’s praise also reflected the contribution of India’s all-round unit.
Washington Sundar, Axar Patel and Shivam Dube all played important roles as India defended its total.
Their contributions became especially important during Pakistan’s late charge. Rather than relying on one individual to close out the match, India used its bowling options effectively and maintained pressure until the final delivery.
The ability to remain composed in a high-pressure finish was one of the defining features of India’s performance.
India had posted a total that looked competitive, but Hasan Nawaz’s remarkable innings ensured that the result remained uncertain almost until the end. The Indian bowlers eventually held their nerve and prevented Pakistan from completing what would have been a remarkable chase.
India retain Asian Games cricket dominance
The victory marks India’s second consecutive men’s cricket gold at the Asian Games.
India won the men’s T20 gold medal at the 2023 Hangzhou Games and returned to the competition in 2026 with the objective of defending the title. The victory over Pakistan ensured that the team achieved that target.
The result also completed a golden campaign for Indian cricket at the 2026 Asian Games. The Indian women’s team had already won gold after defeating Sri Lanka in the women’s final.
With both men’s and women’s teams winning gold, India secured both available cricket gold medals at the Games.
That achievement adds further significance to India’s overall performance in Japan and highlights the country’s growing strength in T20 cricket.
A memorable final against Pakistan
The final also carried additional significance because India and Pakistan met for the gold medal.
India’s strong start with the bat created a sizeable target, but Pakistan refused to surrender. Hasan Nawaz’s 96 ensured that the match remained competitive, while India’s bowlers had to maintain discipline during the closing overs.
The contest eventually went down to the final delivery, when Dube removed Nawaz to seal India’s 19-run victory.
For the Indian players, the result represented both a title defence and a successful response to the pressure surrounding a major final against a familiar rival.
Laxman’s praise reflects team effort
Laxman’s comments focused heavily on the collective effort rather than individual performances.
The coach said the team had “stuck together” despite the challenges encountered during the tournament. His assessment reflects how India navigated weather disruptions and pressure situations before producing its best performance when the gold medal was at stake.
The coach also recognised the emotional significance of the achievement for players who had already experienced success at the World Cup but were tasting Asian Games gold for the first time.
That combination of established international experience and a fresh group of players helped India maintain its composure throughout the competition.
India complete a golden cricket double
India’s men’s cricket team leaves the 2026 Asian Games as defending champions after a memorable victory over Pakistan. The 19-run win, built around Abhishek Sharma’s explosive 61, Tilak Varma’s unbeaten 51 and a disciplined bowling effort, ensured that the gold medal returned to India for a second successive Games.
For Laxman, the achievement was more than another medal. It was a special moment for a group of players who overcame difficult conditions and pressure to retain India’s place at the top of Asian Games men’s cricket.
With the women’s team also securing gold, Indian cricket achieved a clean sweep of the two cricket gold medals in Japan. The men’s victory over Pakistan therefore stands as one of the standout moments of India’s 2026 Asian Games campaign.