India vs Pakistan Live Score, Asian Games final: Abhishek launches assault, India lose Sooryavanshi & Samson
Holders India take on arch-rivals Pakistan in the Asian Games 2026 cricket final today, with the gold medal at stake. The Men in Blue stormed into the title clash with a commanding 124-run win over Sri Lanka in the semi-final, while Pakistan secured their place with a six-wicket victory over Bangladesh in the other last-four clash.
Both teams have played just one match in the tournament so far. As two of the four seeded teams, India and Pakistan received direct entry to the quarter-finals, but all four last-eight matches were washed out due to rain. This will be the first-ever meeting between India and Pakistan in cricket at the Asian Games.
India are the defending champions, having won the men's gold medal at Hangzhou 2023. Pakistan, meanwhile, are bidding for their first men's Asian Games cricket gold, although their women's team have previously won the title.
Key Updates
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Abhishek, the six-hitting machine!
Another maximum from Abhishek Sharma! He has now smashed seven sixes and three fours, and is closing in on his half-century.
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Back-to-back dropped catches!
A huge sigh of relief for India! Abhishek Sharma is dropped at deep mid-wicket on 39. Moments later, Shreyas Iyer gets a similar reprieve as another chance goes down.
India are 63/2 after five overs.
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No stopping Abhishek Sharma
Pakistan turn to Abrar Ahmed, but Abhishek is in no mood to slow down, smashing the spinner for yet another six.
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WICKET! Samson walks back
Sanju Samson departs for two. He tries to clear mid-on off a length delivery, but gets a leading edge off the higher part of the bat and finds the fielder. Shreyas Iyer comes to the crease.
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India bring up 50!
Pakistan turn to pacer Ahmed Daniyal, but Abhishek Sharma greets him with another six, sending the ball over the fence. India reach the 50-run mark in 3.2 overs.
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Abhishek keeps the boundaries coming
Sanju Samson joins Abhishek Sharma at the crease, and Abhishek continues his onslaught! The opener finishes the third over with 6, 4, 4 off the final three balls as India race to 43/1 after three overs.
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Sooryavanshi gone
Pakistan have their first breakthrough, and it’s a big wicket! India’s teenage batting sensation Sooryavanshi attempts a reverse sweep against Saim Ayub but edges it through to wicketkeeper Usman Khan. He departs for 15.
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Massive over for India!
A whopping 24 runs come off the over as India race to 28/0 after two overs.
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ANOTHER SIX
Third six of the over. Abhishek Sharma belts it over mid-on for another maximum, and the Indian fans are loving every bit of it.
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Back-to-back sixes for Sooryavanshi!
15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi takes on Saad Masood, smashing him for two sixes in a row.
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India off the mark
Spinner Saim Ayub bowls a wide as India open their account. Sooryavanshi then gets off the mark, watchfully working the ball off his hip for a single. -
Here we go!
The pre-match formalities are done, and we’re all set for the action to begin. India are ready to open their innings, with Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and Abhishek Sharma walking out to bat.
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Almost time!
India and Pakistan players walk out for the gold-medal clash. The national anthems are now being played.
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India vs Pakistan T20 head-to-head
India lead the T20 head-to-head 14-3 in 17 meetings against Pakistan. They have also won their last six encounters, with Pakistan’s most recent victory coming in 2022.
The rivals last met at this year’s T20 World Cup in Colombo, where Ishan Kishan’s 77 guided India to a comfortable win.
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Pakistan playing XI
Sahibzada Farhan (c), Maaz Sadaqat, Usman Khan, Saim Ayub, Hasan Nawaz, Abdul Samad, Arafat Minhas, Ahmed Daniyal, Mohammad Wasim, Sufiyan Moqim, Abrar Ahmed.
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India names unchanged XI
Abhishek Sharma, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Sanju Samson, Shreyas Iyer (c), Ishan Kishan, Tilak Varma, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Ravi Bishnoi, Jasprit Bumrah.
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India to bat first
India have opted to bat first against Pakistan. And there’s no handshake between the two sides at the toss.
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