India beat Pakistan by 19 runs on Saturday, Oct. 3, to win the men’s cricket gold at the Asian Games in Japan. The match between national teams became another official measure of prestige. India scored 211-6 in 20 overs, then restricted Pakistan to 192-6. The scoreboard delivered a winner. The handshake line stayed empty.
India retained the title it won at Hangzhou in 2023, completing the men’s and women’s cricket gold double. Its total was the highest-ever T20 score against Pakistan. Abhishek Sharma made 61 from 28 balls; Tilak Varma finished unbeaten on 51 from 21. Hasan Nawaz gave Pakistan’s chase a late charge, scoring 96 from 51 balls, before India caught him behind off the final ball.
The contest, counted in runs
The final took place at Korogi Sports Park in Nisshin on a used wicket. India won the toss and chose to bat. Saad Masood, making his debut, conceded 24 runs in his first over, including three sixes by Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and Abhishek Sharma, a no-ball and a four from Sooryavanshi off the free hit.
At age 15, Sooryavanshi became the youngest Indian to win an Asian Games gold medal, according to the live coverage. He scored 15 from nine balls before Saim Ayub had him caught by wicketkeeper Usman Khan. After the dismissal, Ayub made a rocking-baby gesture.
Abhishek reached his half-century from 20 balls and struck seven sixes and three fours before Arafat Minhas stumped him for 61. Shreyas Iyer made 21 from 24 balls, while Ishan Kishan scored 20 from 18. Tilak Varma’s unbeaten innings carried India to 211-6; he struck 15 runs from Ahmed Daniyal’s final four balls.
Pakistan’s reply lost wickets as India’s bowlers worked through the batting order. Washington Sundar had Sahibzada Farhan caught by Axar Patel; Patel also took Usman Khan’s wicket. Sadaqat made 23 before Sundar took a catch, and Saim Ayub scored 29 before Sundar caught him off Shivam Dube. Dube took two wickets, including Nawaz on the last ball. Patel and Sundar each finished with two wickets.
A gold medal, and a silent ritual
The result extended India’s run to seven straight T20 wins over Pakistan. It also marked five consecutive men’s games between the rivals without handshakes, before or after play. Shreyas Iyer didn’t shake hands with Pakistan captain Sahibzada Farhan at the toss, and the teams didn’t shake hands after the match.
The AP report placed that refusal within a wider pattern: at other tournaments, Indian cricketers had avoided handshakes with Pakistan players and declined trophies and medals from Pakistani officials. In the 2026 Asia Cup, India’s men beat Pakistan three times, including in the final, without shaking hands; Suryakumar Yadav’s team also refused the trophy from Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Mohsin Naqvi. India’s women likewise didn’t shake hands with Pakistan at a continental championship match and declined the women’s Asia Cup trophy from Naqvi in the United Arab Emirates.
The AP report also noted that players from India and Pakistan embraced and shook hands after India beat Pakistan in a hockey semifinal at these Games. ICC chairman Jay Shah attended the cricket final. No Mohsin Naqvi was expected at the presentation ceremony, while the live coverage left open whether Shreyas Iyer and the team would take part in formalities.
The final’s official accounting was clear: India took gold, Pakistan finished with 192-6, and the result settled the match. The tournament’s ceremony and its national symbols remained another contest, played out through who would offer a hand, accept a medal or appear on the presentation stage.