Indian Men's Cricket Team Triumphs at Asian Games, Secures Gold Medal

The Indian men's cricket team has made a triumphant return after securing the gold medal at the Asian Games, defeating Pakistan in a thrilling final. Key players like Abhishek Sharma and Tilak Varma played pivotal roles in the victory, contributing to a total score of 211 runs. Despite a strong chase from Pakistan, India's bowlers held firm, ensuring a 19-run win. This victory adds to India's impressive medal tally at the Games, where they finished fourth overall. The article delves into the match highlights and the broader success of Indian teams across various sports, including kabaddi and hockey, marking a historic achievement for the nation.

By Narendra Chaudhary Oct 6, 2026, 00:20 IST

Celebrating Victory: Indian Men's Cricket Team Returns Home

The Indian men's cricket squad has returned to the country after clinching the gold medal in the cricket tournament at the recent Asian Games.

Players such as Ishan Kishan, Sanju Samson, and Arshdeep Singh were spotted at the Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi.

In the gold medal match against their long-standing rivals Pakistan, India chose to bat first after winning the toss. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi made a quick contribution of 15 runs off nine balls, hitting two sixes, but it was Abhishek Sharma who stole the show with a remarkable fifty, scoring 61 runs off just 28 balls, including three fours and seven sixes. Ishan Kishan (20) and captain Shreyas Iyer (21) provided stability, setting the stage for Tilak Varma (51* off 22 balls, with three fours and four sixes) and Shivam Dube (27* off 15 balls, with a four and two sixes) to propel India to a total of 211/6, thanks to a crucial 62-run partnership for the sixth wicket.

During Pakistan's chase, they found themselves struggling at 39/3, but Hasan Nawaz's impressive 96 runs off 51 balls, featuring five fours and seven sixes, kept them in the game. Ultimately, Pakistan finished at 192/6. Axar Patel and Washington Sundar both delivered outstanding bowling performances, with Washington taking 2 wickets for 29 runs, while Shivam Dube also claimed 2 wickets for 33 runs.

India concluded the Asian Games with a total of 85 medals, comprising 21 gold, 27 silver, and 37 bronze, placing them fourth in the overall medal tally. China led the Games with an impressive 341 medals, including 169 gold, while Japan secured second place with 269 medals, of which 83 were gold. South Korea followed in third with 150 medals, including 39 gold.

Despite falling short of their record of 106 medals, including 28 gold, achieved at the Hangzhou Games in 2023, India's campaign was marked by significant accomplishments across various sports.

The standout achievement came in team sports, where India excelled in both men's and women's competitions in cricket, kabaddi, and hockey, winning gold medals in all six events. The men's cricket team added to the women's earlier victory, defeating Pakistan by 19 runs in the final, while the women's team had triumphed over Sri Lanka by 147 runs.

In kabaddi, India maintained its dominance, with the women's team narrowly defeating Iran 37-34 to defend their title, and the men's team overcoming Iran 40-34. This marked the men's team's ninth gold in ten editions since kabaddi was introduced as a men's team sport at the Asian Games in 1990, with the only exception being a bronze in 2018. The women's team has continued to assert its dominance since the sport's inclusion in the women's program in 2010.

Hockey also contributed to India's clean sweep in team sports. The women's team ended a 44-year wait for an Asian Games medal by defeating China 1-0 in the final, with Lalremsiami scoring the winning goal in the 10th minute. This victory marked India's first women's hockey gold at the Asian Games since 1982.

The men's hockey team followed suit with a decisive 5-1 victory over Malaysia in the final, successfully defending their Asian Games title. This win marked India's fifth gold in men's hockey, following previous victories in 1966, 1998, 2014, and 2022, and it was the first time both the men's and women's teams secured gold in the same edition.

With these remarkable victories, both the men's and women's hockey teams have qualified for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics, securing their spots in the prestigious event.