India vs Pakistan Asian Games Final: All Eyes on Gold Medal Clash on October 3

India and Pakistan are set for another big cricket meeting, but this time there is a gold medal waiting at the end of it. The two teams will face each other in the men’s cricket final of the 2026 Asian Games on Saturday, October 3, at Korogi Sports Park in Nisshin, Japan. The match will start at 10:00 AM IST.

This will be the first-ever India-Pakistan men’s cricket final at the Asian Games, which makes the match special even before a ball is bowled. India are the defending champions after winning gold at the 2023 Asian Games, while Pakistan are looking for their first men’s cricket gold medal at the Games.

India reached the final after putting together a completely one-sided performance against Sri Lanka. Ishan Kishan played the main innings with the bat, scoring an unbeaten 80 from 46 balls, while 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi added a quick 38 from 21 balls on his international debut. India finished on 169/7 before their bowlers simply blew Sri Lanka away for 45.

Pakistan had a more difficult semifinal because rain reduced their match against Bangladesh to 13 overs. They were set a revised target of 112 and chased it down with nine balls remaining, winning by six wickets. Abdul Samad finished unbeaten on 30 from 15 balls to take Pakistan into the final.

Now, everything comes down to one match.

India vs Pakistan Final: Match Details

The match is scheduled for 10:00 AM IST, with television and streaming coverage available in India.

India Have Looked Strong With Bat and Ball

India did not get much cricket during the early part of the Asian Games because their quarter-final against Afghanistan was washed out. They therefore entered the semifinal without playing an actual match in the tournament.

Once they finally got on the field, though, India looked ready.

Against Sri Lanka, the batting had a few early problems, but Kishan changed the game with his unbeaten 80. Sooryavanshi also gave India some momentum at the top, scoring 38 from just 21 balls.

The real damage came with the ball.

Jasprit Bumrah took two wickets in the opening over and finished with 2/7. Axar Patel also took two wickets, while Abhishek Sharma picked up two wickets in just five deliveries as Sri Lanka collapsed to 45 all out.

It was the kind of bowling performance India would have wanted before a final.

Ishan Kishan Will Be One to Watch

Kishan goes into the final with plenty of confidence after his unbeaten 80 in the semifinal.

He came into the Sri Lanka game with India losing wickets around him, but instead of trying to force the innings, he kept attacking and eventually took the game away from the opposition.

His 80 came from only 46 balls, with four fours and five sixes. That innings gave India enough runs to put Sri Lanka under serious pressure and also showed that Kishan can take responsibility when the team needs a big score.

For Pakistan, stopping India's top order will be one of the biggest jobs in the final.

Pakistan Have Their Own Match-Winners

Pakistan also showed good character in their semifinal.

Their match against Bangladesh was shortened to 13 overs because of rain, and they were put under pressure during the chase after losing four wickets for 53 runs.

But Abdul Samad stayed there until the end and made an unbeaten 30 from 15 balls. Hasan Nawaz also finished unbeaten on 27 as Pakistan reached the revised target in 11.3 overs.

That finish means Pakistan will not be short of confidence heading into the final.

India vs Pakistan: This One Is for Gold

India-Pakistan matches usually bring enough attention on their own, but Saturday's game has something different attached to it.

There is an actual Asian Games gold medal at stake.

India are trying to retain the title they won in Hangzhou, while Pakistan are playing their first men's cricket final at the Asian Games. Both sides also arrived in the final after playing only one proper match because the quarter-finals were washed out.

That makes the final even more interesting. Neither side has had a long tournament campaign to build momentum, and both teams will now have to handle the pressure of an India-Pakistan final.

India vs Pakistan Final Squads

India

Pakistan

The squads listed by current match reports give both teams plenty of batting depth, while India have the added option of using Bumrah, Arshdeep and several spin options.

What Happened in the Semifinals?

India's semifinal was a dominant win, while Pakistan had to deal with a rain-shortened match.

A Final With Plenty at Stake

For India, the target is simple — retain the Asian Games gold medal.

For Pakistan, it is an opportunity to win their first men's cricket gold at the Asian Games.

And for cricket fans, it is another India-Pakistan match, but with a different setting and a gold medal on the line.

The final is scheduled for 10:00 AM IST on Saturday, and after the way both teams performed in their semifinals, there is plenty of interest around what could happen when they finally meet.

One thing is certain: by the end of Saturday morning, one of India or Pakistan will be taking home the Asian Games cricket gold.