Asian Games Gold Highlights India's White-Ball Cricket Strength: BCCI Secretary Saikia

Saikia described the win as particularly satisfying given the opposition and said India's gold medal in the men's cricket competition added to the country's success in international tournaments.

“It felt very good. A very delightful victory against Pakistan,” Saikia said, adding that the result demonstrated India's standing in white-ball cricket.

India retained its Asian Games men's cricket gold medal with a 19-run victory at Korogi Sports Park in Nisshin on Saturday. After winning the toss, captain Shreyas Iyer elected to bat and India posted 211/6.

Abhishek Sharma provided the early impetus with a blistering 61 from 28 balls. He reached his half-century in just 20 deliveries, hitting seven sixes and three fours, before eventually being dismissed at a strike rate of 217.85.

India had lost Vaibhav Sooryavanshi for 15 and Sanju Samson for four early in the innings, but Abhishek's aggressive batting kept the scoreboard moving during the Powerplay.

Tilak Varma then took charge of the closing stages, remaining unbeaten on 51 from 22 balls. He shared a 62-run partnership with Shivam Dube, who contributed 27 from 15 deliveries, helping India finish with a formidable total.

Pakistan's chase remained competitive despite the size of the target, with Hasan Nawaz producing an outstanding 96 from 51 balls to keep his team in contention.

India's bowlers, particularly Washington Sundar and Axar Patel, controlled the middle overs and prevented Pakistan from maintaining the required scoring rate.

Dube then delivered the decisive moment on the final ball of the innings by dismissing Nawaz, leaving Pakistan on 192 and handing India a 19-run victory.

The result gave India its second consecutive Asian Games gold medal in men's cricket and capped a successful campaign for the team in the T20 format.