India's Axar Patel (L) celebrates the dismissal of Pakistan's Usman Khan (R) during the men's cricket final match
India's Axar Patel, left, celebrates the dismissal of Pakistan's Usman Khan, right, during the men's cricket final match between Pakistan and India during the 2026 Asian Games [Andrew Cabellero-Reynolds/AFP]

India beat their fierce rivals Pakistan by 19 runs on Saturday to win Asian Games T20 cricket gold after a pulsating final in front of a small but raucous crowd in Nagoya, Japan.

Hasan Nawaz’s valiant 96 saw Pakistan come up just short at 192-6, after World T20 champions India scored a mammoth 211-6 in their 20 overs.

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India choose to bat against Pakistan in the fierce rivals’ blockbuster and Abhishek Sharma pummelled a 20-ball fifty on his way to 61 in a whirlwind start to the innings on the converted baseball field.

India brought their 100 up off just 55 balls before Pakistan’s bowlers regained some control after dismissing the in-form Ishan Kishan for 20 and captain Shreyas Iyer for 21.

But Tilak Varma and Shivam Dube unleashed a late onslaught, putting on 62 in five overs for the sixth wicket as India recorded the highest score of the tournament so far, easily eclipsing their 169-7 against Sri Lanka in the semi-final.