PM Modi hails India cricket team's Asian Games gold after 19-run win over Pakistan
Synopsis
India's men's cricket team defended their Asian Games gold with a nerve-shredding 19-run win over Pakistan in Nisshin, Japan — Abhishek Sharma's record fifty and Shivam Dube's final-ball wicket doing the heavy lifting. PM Modi called it 'a joyous occasion for the nation,' while ICC chairman Jay Shah hailed Nagoya as a landmark moment in cricket's global march.
Key Takeaways
India beat Pakistan by 19 runs in the Asian Games men's cricket final at Karogi Sports Park, Nisshin on 3 October 2026 .
PM Modi praised the team, calling it 'a joyous occasion for the nation' in a statement from the PMO India .
Abhishek Sharma scored 61 off 28 balls — the fastest T20I fifty by an Indian against Pakistan — while Tilak Varma hit an unbeaten 51 off 22 .
India posted 211 for 6 ; Pakistan were bowled out for 192 for 6 , with Hasan Nawaz top-scoring with 96 off 51 .
Shivam Dube took Nawaz's wicket on the final ball to seal India's second consecutive Asian Games gold in men's cricket.
ICC chairman Jay Shah described the occasion as 'a proud new chapter in cricket's history' in a post on X .
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday, 3 October 2026 congratulated the Indian men's cricket team on retaining their gold medal at the Asian Games, following a thrilling 19-run victory over Pakistan in the final at Karogi Sports Park in Nisshin, part of the Aichi-Nagoya Games. The win hands India back-to-back gold medals in men's cricket at the continental showpiece.
Modi's Message to the Team
'The gold comes to India yet again! Congratulations to our Men's Cricket Team on retaining their title at the Asian Games. This is indeed a joyous occasion for the nation. My best wishes to the team members for their future endeavours,' a statement from the PMO India read. Modi described the achievement as a source of national pride, underscoring the significance of the team defending a title won in the previous edition of the Games.
ICC Chairman Jay Shah's Tribute
ICC chairman Jay Shah also congratulated the team, posting a message on X (formerly Twitter). 'Nagoya and Japan have written a proud new chapter in cricket's history. Congratulations to Team India on a campaign worthy of this moment, and heartfelt thanks to every competing nation, to the Olympic Council of Asia and organisers whose vision brought us here, and to the thousands of fans whose presence reminded us why cricket is so special anywhere in the world,' Shah wrote.
How India Won the Final
Abhishek Sharma blazed a breathtaking 61 off 28 balls — the fastest fifty by an Indian batter against Pakistan in T20Is — before Tilak Varma struck an unbeaten 51 off 22 and Shivam Dube provided a late surge, propelling India to 211 for 6. The partnership of pace, power, and composure set a formidable total in what turned into a riveting final.
Pakistan mounted a fierce reply, driven by a magnificent 96 off 51 from Hasan Nawaz. With the match on a knife-edge in the closing overs, India's spinners — notably Washington Sundar and Axar Patel — kept their composure. It was Dube who delivered the decisive blow, taking the wicket of Nawaz on the final ball to end Pakistan's innings at 192 for 6, triggering wild celebrations among the Indian players.
What the Win Means
This is India's second consecutive Asian Games gold in men's cricket, cementing the team's dominance in the multi-sport continental event. The victory also extends India's unbeaten record against Pakistan in Asian Games cricket finals. Notably, the match was played at a newly christened venue in Nisshin, Japan — a reminder of cricket's expanding footprint across Asia, a cause championed by the ICC.
All eyes will now turn to how this squad's momentum can be carried forward into upcoming bilateral and ICC assignments.
Point of View
But the deeper story is structural: India are now the only team consistently fielding near-full-strength squads at the Games, which shapes the competitive dynamic. The real significance of this tournament is geopolitical as much as sporting — cricket played in Japan, championed by an ICC that needs Olympic inclusion arguments, watched by a global diaspora. Dube's final-ball heroics will make the highlight reels, but the more consequential moment may be Jay Shah's post on X framing Nagoya as a 'new chapter in cricket's history' — a pointed signal about the sport's Olympic ambitions.
NationPress
3 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Did India win gold at the 2026 Asian Games in cricket?
Yes, India won the men's cricket gold at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, defeating Pakistan by 19 runs in the final at Karogi Sports Park in Nisshin on 3 October 2026. It is India's second consecutive Asian Games gold in men's cricket.
How did India beat Pakistan in the Asian Games cricket final?
India posted 211 for 6, powered by Abhishek Sharma's 61 off 28 and Tilak Varma's unbeaten 51 off 22. Pakistan were restricted to 192 for 6 despite Hasan Nawaz's 96 off 51, with Shivam Dube taking the decisive final-ball wicket.
What did PM Modi say about India's Asian Games cricket gold?
PM Modi, in a statement from the PMO India, said 'The gold comes to India yet again!' and described the win as 'a joyous occasion for the nation,' wishing the team well for future endeavours.
Who were the top performers for India in the Asian Games cricket final?
Abhishek Sharma (61 off 28), Tilak Varma (51* off 22), and Shivam Dube were the standout batters. Washington Sundar, Axar Patel, and Dube were key contributors with the ball, with Dube taking the match-winning final wicket.
What did ICC chairman Jay Shah say about the Asian Games cricket final?
Jay Shah posted on X that 'Nagoya and Japan have written a proud new chapter in cricket's history,' congratulating Team India and thanking all competing nations, the Olympic Council of Asia, and the tournament's organisers.
