Nisshin, October 3, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Abhishek Sharma and Tilak Varma produced explosive half-centuries as India overcame a sluggish surface to post 211/6 in 20 overs against Pakistan in the Asian Games men’s cricket gold-medal match at Korogi Sports Park on Saturday.
Abhishek raced to his fifty in just 20 balls, surpassing his own previous 24-ball effort against Pakistan in Dubai in 2025 to record the fastest fifty by an Indian against Pakistan in T20Is. He eventually scored 61 off 28 deliveries, including three fours and seven sixes.
Tilak then provided a powerful finish, reaching his fifty in 21 balls. His unbeaten 51, combined with Shivam Dube’s contribution, helped India add 62 runs for the sixth wicket and finish strongly.
After winning the toss, India opted to bat but lost Vaibhav Sooryavanshi for 15 off nine balls in the third over. The 15-year-old left-hander attempted an inventive shot against Saim Ayub but ended up caught behind.
Sanju Samson soon followed, holing out to mid-on for another early dismissal. Abhishek then took charge, attacking Pakistan’s bowlers during the powerplay and reaching his half-century in spectacular fashion.
His innings ended in the eighth over when Arafat Minhas beat him, but India had already gained significant momentum. Pakistan subsequently used spin to slow the scoring, with captain Shreyas Iyer making 21 off 24 balls and Ishan Kishan scoring 20 off 18.
The game changed again in the closing overs as Tilak and Dube launched an assault on the Pakistan attack. India collected 12 runs from Abrar Ahmed in the 17th over, 18 from Sufyan Moqim in the 18th and 23 from Saim Ayub in the 19th.
Tilak’s 21-ball fifty became the second-fastest by an Indian against Pakistan in T20Is, behind only Abhishek’s effort earlier in the innings.
The 62-run partnership between Tilak and Dube was also the second-highest sixth-wicket or lower stand in a five-plus-team T20I tournament final, according to the supplied statistics.
Abhishek’s seven sixes also placed him second among Indian batters for most sixes in T20I finals, behind Sanju Samson’s eight against New Zealand in Ahmedabad in 2026.
Brief scores: India 211/6 in 20 overs (Abhishek Sharma 61, Tilak Varma 51 not out; Arafat Minhas 2-25, Ahmed Daniyal 2-43) vs Pakistan.
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