Hasan Nawaz came within four runs of a sensational century, but even his 51-ball 96 could not take Pakistan across the line as India defended 211 to win the Asian Games 2026 men’s cricket final by 19 runs.
There was a point in the Asian Games 2026 men’s cricket final when Pakistan appeared to have found the perfect answer to India’s huge total.
Hasan Nawaz was attacking almost everything that came his way.
The Pakistan batter smashed 96 runs from just 51 balls, including five fours and seven sixes, and kept the chase alive deep into the innings.
But the problem for Pakistan was that Hasan’s brilliance was not enough.
India had already built a 211-run target, thanks to explosive contributions from Abhishek Sharma and Tilak Varma, and Pakistan eventually finished on 192/6 after 20 overs.
India therefore secured a 19-run victory in the gold-medal match.
India Had the Perfect Start
India won the toss and elected to bat.
The opening combination of Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and Abhishek Sharma provided an aggressive start.
Sooryavanshi made 15 from nine balls, hitting two sixes before Pakistan removed him.
Abhishek, however, continued the attack.
The left-hander produced one of the most explosive innings of the match, smashing 61 from only 28 balls.
- 3 fours
- 7 sixes
- Strike rate: 217.85
Abhishek’s attacking approach gave India the momentum they needed early in the innings.
Pakistan Pull India Back in the Middle Overs
Despite India’s flying start, Pakistan managed to regain control during the middle overs.
Sanju Samson was dismissed for just 2, while captain Shreyas Iyer scored 21 from 24 balls.
Ishan Kishan contributed 20 from 18 deliveries.
The wickets slowed India’s scoring rate and created an opportunity for Pakistan to restrict the total.
For a while, India appeared to be heading towards a considerably lower total than the one they eventually posted.
That is where Tilak Varma and Shivam Dube changed the final completely.
Tilak Varma Turns the Final Around
Tilak Varma walked into a situation where India needed a strong finish.
He responded with one of the fastest innings of the match.
Tilak remained unbeaten on 51 from just 22 balls, with three fours and four sixes.
His strike rate was an extraordinary:
231.81
Shivam Dube provided equally important support, scoring 27 from 15 balls, including two fours and two sixes.
Together, Tilak and Dube added 62 runs for the sixth wicket, giving India the late-innings acceleration they needed.
India eventually finished on:
211/6 in 20 Overs
That meant Pakistan needed 212 runs to win the Asian Games gold medal.
Pakistan’s Chase Revolved Around One Man
Pakistan’s reply did not begin perfectly.
Sahibzada Farhan scored 10, while Maaz Sadaqat made 23.
Usman Khan was dismissed for only 3.
Then came Hasan Nawaz.
And suddenly, Pakistan’s chase had a completely different look.
Hasan Nawaz’s 96 Keeps Pakistan Alive
Hasan Nawaz played an outstanding attacking innings.
He scored:
96 Runs Off 51 Balls
His innings included:
- 5 fours
- 7 sixes
- Strike rate: 188.23
He came remarkably close to a century, but more importantly for Pakistan, his batting kept the chase alive when wickets were falling around him.
Saim Ayub also contributed 29 from 22 balls, while Abdul Samad made 9.
But Pakistan needed more than one major innings against a target of 212.
The 19-Run Difference Tells the Story
At the end of 20 overs, Pakistan had reached:
192/6
India’s total was:
211/6
The difference was only:
19 Runs
That makes Hasan Nawaz’s innings even more intriguing.
He scored exactly half of Pakistan’s runs himself.
Pakistan’s final total of 192 included 10 runs from extras, meaning a huge share of the scoring responsibility fell on the batters who contributed around Hasan.
India, meanwhile, had several significant contributions rather than relying on one batter alone.
India vs Pakistan Final: Key Batting Performances
| Batter | Runs | Balls | Strike Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abhishek Sharma | 61 | 28 | 217.85 |
| Tilak Varma | 51* | 22 | 231.81 |
| Shivam Dube | 27 | 15 | 180.00 |
| Shreyas Iyer | 21 | 24 | 87.50 |
| Hasan Nawaz | 96 | 51 | 188.23 |
| Saim Ayub | 29 | 22 | 131.81 |
| Maaz Sadaqat | 23 | 18 | 127.77 |
India’s Bowling Attack Finally Gets the Job Done
Pakistan’s scorecard shows just how competitive the chase became.
Hasan Nawaz’s 96 meant India could not afford to relax.
India’s bowlers eventually managed to keep enough control over the other end to prevent Pakistan from matching the required scoring rate.
Washington Sundar and Axar Patel both played important roles with the ball as India kept taking wickets at crucial moments.
The wickets of Pakistan’s supporting batters proved crucial because Hasan was scoring at a strike rate close to 190.
The Biggest Difference Between the Two Innings
There is an interesting contrast between the two teams’ batting efforts.
India had two half-centuries:
- Abhishek Sharma – 61
- Tilak Varma – 51*
Pakistan had one huge individual performance:
- Hasan Nawaz – 96
But cricket is a team game, and India’s multiple contributions ultimately produced the higher total.
The equation was simple.
India: 211/6
Pakistan: 192/6
India won by 19 runs.
Why Hasan Nawaz’s 96 Will Still Be Remembered
Despite ending on the losing side, Hasan Nawaz’s innings was one of the standout individual performances of the final.
He faced 51 balls and scored 96 runs, attacking India’s bowling throughout his stay at the crease.
He needed only four more runs to complete a century.
But there was a bigger issue: Pakistan needed 212, not 100.
Even with Hasan producing one of the best innings of the match, Pakistan could not find enough support to complete the chase.
That is what makes the final scoreline so fascinating.
One team had the bigger individual score.
The other team had the bigger team total.
And that 19-run difference decided the gold medal.
India Win the Asian Games Gold Medal
India’s victory was built on a combination of explosive batting and enough control with the ball to defend 211.
Abhishek Sharma’s 61 gave India the early momentum.
Tilak Varma’s unbeaten 51 ensured the innings finished strongly.
Shivam Dube’s quick 27 added further acceleration.
Then, when Pakistan threatened through Hasan Nawaz’s extraordinary 96, India’s bowlers held their nerve.
Pakistan finished on 192/6, leaving India with a 19-run victory and the Asian Games gold medal.
The final will be remembered not simply as another India-Pakistan match, but as a game where Hasan Nawaz came within four runs of a century, yet Pakistan still fell 19 runs short of India’s total.
Related News:
Why Is a Batter Out LBW? Cricket’s Most Misunderstood Rule Explained
