India vs Pakistan is one of the biggest rivalries in cricket. The two teams will meet again in Japan, this time to fight for the gold medal at the Asian Games 2026.
Both teams have a lot to play for. India wants to defend their Asian Games gold medal, while Pakistan wants to beat their biggest rivals and win gold. Saturday’s final will also give fans a chance to watch some exciting young players and experienced international stars in action.
India vs Pakistan Final: Match Details
- Match: India vs Pakistan, Gold Medal Match
- Tournament: Asian Games 2026 Men’s Cricket
- Date: Saturday, October 3, 2026
- Venue: Korogi Sports Park, Nisshin, Japan
- Format: T20 International
India and Pakistan have never played each other in the men’s Asian Games cricket competition. This makes the final a special moment in their rivalry.
India reached the final after beating Sri Lanka by 124 runs. Pakistan also booked their place in the final after defeating Bangladesh by six wickets in a rain-shortened semi-final.
India vs Pakistan Expected Playing XI
Here are the expected playing XI of India vs Pakistan Asian Games Men’s Cricket final.
India Predicted Playing XI
- Vaibhav Sooryavanshi
- Abhishek Sharma
- Sanju Samson (WK)
- Shreyas Iyer (C)
- Ishan Kishan
- Tilak Varma
- Shivam Dube
- Axar Patel
- Washington Sundar
- Ravi Bishnoi
- Jasprit Bumrah
India may keep the same playing XI that delivered a big win against Sri Lanka in the semi-final.
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi impressed on his debut. Ishan Kishan also played a brilliant knock of 80 not out. Jasprit Bumrah helped India by taking early wickets. Their performances helped India win the match comfortably.
Arshdeep Singh is another option for India. The team could bring him into the playing XI to add a left-arm fast bowler. However, India would need to make a change to their semi-final team to include him.
Pakistan Predicted Playing XI
- Sahibzada Farhan (C)
- Maaz Sadaqat
- Usman Khan (WK)
- Saim Ayub
- Hasan Nawaz
- Abdul Samad
- Arafat Minhas
- Mohammad Wasim Jr
- Sufyan Moqim
- Abrar Ahmed
- Ahmed Daniyal
Pakistan could depend on their spinners in the final. Abrar Ahmed, Sufyan Moqim and Arafat Minhas may play important roles with the ball.
However, Pakistan’s batters must give the team a strong start against India’s experienced bowling attack.
Pakistan also have Akif Javed, Ali Raza, Saad Masood and Haider Ali as options. The team could make changes to its playing XI before the match.
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Pitch Report and Weather Conditions
Korogi Sports Park in Nisshin will host the gold-medal match. The pitch could offer some turn and bounce, which may help the spinners.
Pakistan could try to use these conditions to their advantage with their spin-heavy attack. However, India also have several batters who can attack spinners. Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan, Tilak Varma and Shivam Dube can all score quickly against spin.
The weather could also affect the match. Rain has already caused problems during the Asian Games cricket competition. It affected some quarter-final matches and Pakistan’s semi-final.
The final does not have a reserve day. According to the reported tournament rules, India and Pakistan will share the gold medal if rain washes out the entire match.
Both teams will hope the weather allows them to play a full match and fight for the gold medal on the field.
India vs Pakistan Form Guide
India: W-W-W-W-W
Pakistan: W-L-W-W-W
India enter the final after beating Sri Lanka by 124 runs. India scored 169 runs and bowled Sri Lanka out for just 45. Ishan Kishan top-scored with an unbeaten 80 off 46 balls. Bumrah and Abhishek Sharma also took important wickets.
Pakistan beat Bangladesh by six wickets in a rain-hit semi-final. Both teams played 13 overs each, and Bangladesh scored 111/7. Pakistan lost four wickets but won the match thanks to Abdul Samad, who scored an unbeaten 30 off 15 balls. Sufyan Moqim took three wickets.
Players to Watch Out For
Here are the key players to watch out for.
1. Sahibzada Farhan (Pakistan)
Sahibzada Farhan will be important to Pakistan’s chances of winning gold. The captain will likely open the innings and aim for a strong start against India’s fast bowlers. In the 2025 T20 Asia Cup, Farhan scored 57, 58 and 40 runs against India. Although Pakistan lost all three games, Farhan performed well with the bat.
2. Ishan Kishan (India)
Ishan Kishan could play an important role in the final. He scored an unbeaten 80 off 46 balls against Sri Lanka in the semi-final. Kishan also scored 77 off 40 balls against Pakistan in the 2026 T20 World Cup, helping India win by 61 runs. India will expect another strong performance.
Two Key Battles to Watch
Here are the key battles to watch in the India vs Pakistan Gold Medal match.
1. Sahibzada Farhan vs Jasprit Bumrah
The Farhan-Bumrah battle could be important in the powerplay. Farhan scored 47 runs off 33 balls against Bumrah in three meetings during the 2025 T20 Asia Cup without getting out. He scored 18 runs off 10 balls in their September 28 match. Bumrah’s accuracy, pace changes and yorkers make him a major threat.
He also dismissed Pakistan’s Saim Ayub and Salman Ali Agha during the February 2026 T20 World Cup match.
Farhan will need to score quickly without taking too many risks. Bumrah, meanwhile, will try to stop the Pakistan captain from giving his team a fast start.
2. Abhishek Sharma vs Abrar Ahmed
The Abhishek Sharma-Abrar Ahmed battle could be interesting in the final. Abhishek likes to attack in the powerplay, while Abrar could trouble him if the pitch helps spin. Abhishek will look to score quickly, but attacking early can bring risks. Abrar must control his pace and line. No verified T20I head-to-head record between them was available.
India vs Pakistan T20I Head-to-Head Record
India have won more T20 international matches against Pakistan.
The two teams have played 17 T20Is. India have won 13 matches, while Pakistan have won three. One match ended without a result.
Their latest meeting took place on February 15, 2026, during the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.
India scored 175/7 before bowling Pakistan out for 114 in 18 overs. India won the match by 61 runs.
Ishan Kishan won the Player of the Match award for his 77 runs off 40 balls.
However, the Asian Games final will bring a different challenge. India and Pakistan have selected tournament squads that differ from their World Cup teams. Their previous meeting may offer some clues, but it cannot decide the result of Saturday’s final.
Who Are the Favourites to Win?
India enter the final after a strong win over Sri Lanka. Their batting and bowling both worked well in the semi-final. India also have experienced players like Jasprit Bumrah, Axar Patel, Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma. Their fast bowlers can take early wickets, while their spinners can control the middle overs. Their strong batting lineup can also set or chase a big score.
Pakistan also have dangerous players. Sahibzada Farhan can score quickly, while Abdul Samad can finish chases well. Their spinners could also trouble India’s batters if the pitch helps them. Early wickets and Farhan’s battle with Bumrah could be key. Rain may also affect the final.
The India vs Pakistan final at the Asian Games 2026 will add another chapter to one of cricket’s biggest rivalries. The two teams will meet for the first time in the men’s Asian Games cricket competition, with a gold medal at stake.
India will try to continue their winning run and defend their title. Pakistan will look to use Farhan’s batting and their spin attack to challenge India’s strong lineup.
Bumrah’s opening spell, the battle between the batters and spinners, and the weather could all affect the result.
What do you think? Can India defend their Asian Games gold medal, or will Pakistan beat their biggest rivals to win gold? Let us know in the comments.
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