India and Pakistan will meet in the men’s cricket final at the Asian Games 2026 after both teams won their semi-finals on October 1. The result has created one of the most watched cricket matches of the Games, with the gold medal now set to go to either India or Pakistan.
Pakistan earned its place in the final with a six-wicket win over Bangladesh in the first semi-final. India then produced a huge 124-run win over Sri Lanka in the second semi-final. Both matches took place at Korogi Sports Park in Nisshin, Japan. The gold medal match will take place at the same venue on Saturday, October 3.
For India, the result also keeps its hope of a second straight Asian Games cricket gold alive. India won the men’s cricket gold at the 2022 Asian Games in Hangzhou, which took place in 2023. The final against Afghanistan was abandoned due to rain, and India took gold under the ranking rule.
The final will give both sides a clear chance to add another major Asian Games cricket title to their record. It will also be the first India-Pakistan men’s cricket final at the Asian Games.
Pakistan defeat Bangladesh by six wickets
Pakistan were the first team to book a place in the final. They faced Bangladesh in a semi-final that had a major change because of a wet outfield. The match was cut to 13 overs per side.
Bangladesh batted first and scored 111 runs for seven wickets from 13 overs. Towhid Hridoy led the score with 42 runs from 25 balls. His knock had two fours and four sixes. Saif Hassan added 19 runs.
Pakistan’s bowlers kept the Bangladesh total under control despite Hridoy’s attack. Left-arm spinner Sufyan Moqim was the main force with the ball. He took three wickets for 26 runs. Arafat Minhas took two wickets for 23 runs, while Saim Ayub gave away only three runs from his two overs and also took one wicket.
Pakistan did not have an easy start in its chase. Captain Sahibzada Farhan fell for one run. Maaz Sadaqat, Saim Ayub and Usman Khan also lost their wickets during the first seven overs. Pakistan stood at 53 for four, which gave Bangladesh a real chance to take control of the match.
Abdul Samad then changed the course of the game. He made an unbeaten 30 from only 15 balls, with five fours and one six. Hasan Nawaz gave him strong support with an unbeaten 27 from 22 balls. The pair added 59 runs without another wicket.
Samad produced his biggest burst against Mustafizur Rahman in the 10th over. Pakistan needed 36 runs from the last four overs at that point. Hasan took one run from the first ball, after which Samad hit a six and four straight boundaries. That over gave Pakistan 23 runs and reduced the target to 13 runs from 18 balls.
Pakistan reached 112 for four in 11.3 overs and won by six wickets. The victory put the team into the gold medal match against India.
India crush Sri Lanka by 124 runs
India had a far more one-sided semi-final against Sri Lanka. The defending champions scored 169 for seven from 20 overs before they bowled Sri Lanka out for only 45 runs in 9.5 overs.
The 124-run margin gave India a strong statement before the final. The Indian batting unit made enough runs, while the bowlers then broke the Sri Lankan chase very early.
Ishan Kishan was the main star with the bat. He made an unbeaten 80 from 46 balls. His innings gave India control on a pitch that was not easy for stroke play. Kishan also passed a major mark in Indian cricket history during the match.
Young opener Vaibhav Sooryavanshi also made an impact. The 15-year-old scored 38 runs from 21 balls on his Asian Games debut. His score had six fours and two sixes, and he gave India a fast start.
India reached 169 for seven after its 20 overs. Sri Lanka then faced a difficult task against a strong Indian bowling attack.
Jasprit Bumrah set the tone almost at once. He took two wickets early and gave away only seven runs. His first two wickets came in the first five balls of the Sri Lankan innings. That left Sri Lanka under severe pressure before its chase could settle.
The Sri Lankan batting order could not recover. Several wickets fell in quick time, and four Sri Lankan batters failed to score. Nuwanidu Fernando was Sri Lanka’s top scorer with only 15 runs.
Abhishek Sharma also made a strong mark with the ball. He took two wickets for only two runs from five balls. Sri Lanka were all out for 45 in just 9.5 overs. India won by 124 runs and moved into the final.
A major final for Asian Games cricket
The India-Pakistan final will bring together two of Asia’s biggest cricket teams. The match will also carry the value of an Asian Games gold medal, which makes the contest different from a normal bilateral or league match.
The two teams reached the final through very different semi-final routes. Pakistan had to recover from 53 for four before its lower middle order took control. India, on the other hand, dominated Sri Lanka with both bat and ball.
Pakistan’s strength in the first semi-final came from its spin attack and late batting power. India showed a strong pace attack through Bumrah, while Kishan gave the team a solid batting base.
The final could therefore depend on how each side handles the conditions at Korogi Sports Park. Kishan noted after the Sri Lanka match that the pitch was difficult and that the final could also offer help to spinners.
Final set for October 3
The men’s cricket gold medal match will take place on Saturday, October 3, at Korogi Sports Park in Nisshin, Japan. The match is set to start at 1:30 PM local time, according to reports on the final schedule.
Bangladesh and Sri Lanka will first play for the bronze medal. India and Pakistan will then meet for gold.
The match will also give India a chance to defend its Asian Games cricket title. Pakistan, meanwhile, will look to finish the competition with the gold medal after its strong semi-final win over Bangladesh.
Why the final matters
An India-Pakistan cricket match always draws close attention, but this contest has a separate place because of the Asian Games medal at stake. Both teams have reached the final after clear victories in their semi-finals.
India will enter the match after a 124-run win over Sri Lanka. Pakistan will arrive after a six-wicket win over Bangladesh. The two results show that both teams have different paths to the same target.
For India, the main positives from the semi-final were Kishan’s unbeaten 80, Sooryavanshi’s quick 38 and the sharp work of the bowlers. Bumrah took two early wickets, while Abhishek Sharma took two wickets for only two runs.
For Pakistan, Abdul Samad’s unbeaten 30 from 15 balls was the key moment. Hasan Nawaz also stayed unbeaten on 27. Their 59-run partnership helped Pakistan recover from a difficult position and reach the final without further loss.
Gold medal now the only target
The Asian Games cricket competition has now reached its final stage. India and Pakistan have cleared their respective semi-finals, and only one match remains for the men’s gold medal.
India will aim to retain its Asian Games title after its gold medal success at Hangzhou. Pakistan will try to stop that run and claim the top prize itself.
The final will take place on October 3 at Korogi Sports Park in Nisshin. India comes into the contest after a huge 124-run victory over Sri Lanka, while Pakistan enters after a six-wicket win over Bangladesh.
With Ishan Kishan, Jasprit Bumrah and a young Vaibhav Sooryavanshi among India’s key performers, and Abdul Samad and Hasan Nawaz fresh from a match-winning partnership for Pakistan, the final has several players who can shape the result.
The gold medal will go to the team that handles the final better on the day. For now, the Asian Games 2026 men’s cricket title has come down to one match: India versus Pakistan.
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