India withstand Hasan Nawaz onslaught to beat Pakistan, win Asian Games gold

TimesofIndia in Aichi-Nagoya: The warm hugs, high-fives and handshakes that have become a norm between Indian and Pakistani athletes across sports at the Asian Games took a leave of absence when the cricket teams played at the Korogi Sports Park in Nisshin on Saturday.Enter Shreyas Iyer and his men. There were no customary courtesies, only an expression of rivalry and an unmistakable desire to win gold. By the time the sun set over the Owari Hills, the gold medal was glistening around the necks of Iyer and his men. But Pakistan had ensured it was no procession, launching a late fightback that put the champagne on ice for the defending champions.Opting to bat, India rode on half-centuries from Abhishek Sharma (61; 28b, 3x4, 7x6) and Tilak Varma (51*; 22b, 2x4, 4x6) to post 211/6. Pakistan, reduced to 31/3 at the end of the Powerplay, appeared headed for a heavy defeat. Then Hasan Nawaz took charge, smashing a breathtaking 51-ball 96 (5x4, 7x6). But his assault came too late as Pakistan finished on 192/6, handing India a 19-run victory.On a surface that played differently from the one used in the semifinals, India’s openers took a little time to settle in. Pakistan’s decision to open with off-spinner Saim Ayub looked like a good move but the bubble burst soon after as Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and Abhishek soon found their range.Sooryavanshi provided the early fireworks, dropping to one knee to launch leg-spinner Saad Masood over the bowler’s head before pulling the next delivery through midwicket. Abhishek was not to be outdone, finding the region beyond mid-on.While Sooryavanshi and Sanju Samson returned to the makeshift dressing room, Abhishek, who survived a dropped catch and a run-out, tormented the Pakistan attack as India raced to 81 in the Powerplay.Length was a major issue for Pakistan, who repeatedly bowled short to the in-form batters. Once they got that right, there was a lull of almost six overs without a boundary before Tilak and Shivam Dube launched the late assault.The final push came in the penultimate over, which yielded 23 runs and propelled India beyond 200.With Pakistan 31/3 after six overs, an early finish seemed on the cards. Hasan Nawaz had other ideas. The right-hander produced an innings to remember, keeping Pakistan in the contest almost single-handedly. But by then, India had done enough to ensure the gold stayed with them.For Iyer, the victory was also a reward for a team that had refused to let circumstances derail its campaign.“Ecstatic,” was how he described the feeling. “Since the day we arrived in Japan, it was raining cats and dogs and we couldn’t practise for almost a week. But the boys prepped themselves and we trained on the side. We didn’t complain, we didn’t give any reason,” Iyer said. “That was a sign of a champion team and today was just a reflection of that,” he added.Head coach VVS Laxman said the Asian Games gold carried a special significance for players who had already experienced World Cup success.With cricket returning to the Olympics in 2028, Randy Newman’s super hit song ‘I Love LA’ may well be playing in the players’ mind.Brief scores: India 211-6 (A Sharma 61, Tilak Varma 51 not out, Shivam Dube 27; Arafat Minhas 2-25, Ahmed Daniyal 2-43) beat Pakistan 192-6 in 20 overs (Hasan Nawaz 96, Saim Ayub 29; Axar Patel 2-29, Washington Sundar 2-29) by 19 runs.Stay updated with the latest Asian Games 2026 news, check the Asian Games medal tally and complete Asian Games schedule.Get the latest Sports News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.