India Post 211/6, Pakistan Need 212 for Asian Games Gold

New Delhi, October 03, 2026 India and Pakistan are battling for the men’s cricket gold medal at the Asian Games, with the arch-rivals meeting in the final after securing convincing victories in their respective semifinals. India advanced to the title clash with a commanding win over Sri Lanka, while Pakistan defeated Bangladesh to earn their place in the gold-medal match. India produced a dominant display in the semifinal against Sri Lanka, winning by 124 runs. Ishan Kishan played a starring role with an unbeaten 80, while the Indian bowlers bundled out Sri Lanka for just 45. Pakistan, meanwhile, booked their place in the final after a clinical performance against Bangladesh, setting up another high-profile contest between the two sides. Batting first in the final, India posted 211/6 in 20 overs, leaving Pakistan with a target of 212 for the gold medal. India began aggressively but experienced a slowdown in the middle overs on a surface offering turn and bounce. Tilak Varma then provided the late impetus, scoring a half-century to help India push beyond the 200-run mark. Pakistan’s fielding added to India’s advantage, with the side missing opportunities through dropped catches and unsuccessful run-out attempts. Pakistan now face a demanding chase against an Indian bowling attack that will look to exploit the conditions, particularly the assistance available to the spinners. India have a 14-3 head-to-head advantage over Pakistan in T20 internationals, but the final presents a separate contest with the gold medal at stake. Weather could also have a bearing on the result, with tournament rules stating that if rain completely washes out the match and no reserve day is available, both finalists will share the gold medal. Pakistan now need 212 runs to claim the title as the second innings gets underway.