India vs Pakistan Again, This Time for Asian Games Cricket Gold on Tricky Track

The India-Pakistan rivalry is set for another chapter, but this time the stakes are an Asian Games gold medal.

Less than 48 hours after the ICC unveiled the schedule for next year’s ODI World Cup in South Africa, the neighbours meet in the men’s cricket final at Korogi Park on Saturday morning — their first men’s cricket clash at the Asian Games.

Rain has disrupted much of the tournament, washing out several matches and shortening others. But the final needs no extra incentive. A gold medal and one of cricket’s biggest rivalries provide more than enough motivation for both sides.

India have brought a strong T20 squad to Japan, featuring Jasprit Bumrah, Shreyas Iyer, Sanju Samson, Ishan Kishan, Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Axar Patel and Washington Sundar. Pakistan, meanwhile, have a younger squad led by Sahibzada Farhan and featuring Saim Ayub, Hasan Nawaz, Abdul Samad and Arafat Minhas.

THE RIVALRY RETURNS

The India-Pakistan rivalry has extended beyond cricket in recent times, with the teams also avoiding handshakes in competitions such as volleyball, table tennis and hockey. The two cricket teams have not shaken hands since last year’s Asia Cup.

One subplot will, however, be missing from Saturday’s final. Asian Cricket Council president Mohsin Naqvi will not attend the gold-medal match because of prior commitments, the ACC said on its official X account.

Naqvi, who is also Pakistan Cricket Board chairman and Pakistan’s Interior Minister, was at the centre of controversy during last year’s Asia Cup presentation ceremony, when India’s men’s and women’s teams declined to receive their trophies from him.

On the field, India and Pakistan have taken contrasting routes to the final. India crushed Sri Lanka by bowling them out for just 45 in the semi-final. Pakistan had a tougher passage against Bangladesh, losing wickets regularly during a shortened chase before Abdul Samad’s unbeaten 30 off 15 balls took them across the line.

India have dominated the recent T20I rivalry, winning the last six meetings and holding a 14-3 overall record. Pakistan’s last T20I victory over India came in 2022. Their most recent meeting was in the group stage of this year’s T20 World Cup in Colombo, where Ishan Kishan’s 77 helped India secure victory.

In ODIs, Pakistan’s most recent win over India came in the 2017 Champions Trophy.

India enter the final having won their last five completed matches, while Pakistan’s recent sequence reads WLWWW.

THE TRICKY PITCH

Pakistan’s best opportunity could come from the Korogi Park surface, which has proved difficult for batters throughout the tournament. Moisture underneath the pitch, uneven bounce and turn have all played a role, while the semi-finals again exposed the challenges of batting on the surface.

India are likely to make full use of their spin resources, with Axar Patel, Washington Sundar and Ravi Bishnoi expected to play important roles. Abhishek Sharma also gives captain Shreyas Iyer another spin option. Jasprit Bumrah provides India’s main pace threat and can be effective regardless of how much assistance the pitch offers.

Pakistan are expected to depend heavily on Abrar Ahmed and Sufyan Moqim, with Saim Ayub and Arafat Minhas also capable of bowling spin. With both teams possessing several spin options, the middle overs could prove decisive.

The weather forecast is considerably more encouraging after the rain interruptions earlier in the tournament, with only a small chance of rain expected and temperatures forecast to remain between 16 and 27 degrees Celsius.

PRESSURE ON INDIA

India have treated the Asian Games seriously, sending Bumrah and several established T20 players to Japan. For interim head coach VVS Laxman and captain Shreyas Iyer, expectations will be high.

Pakistan’s young team, however, has players capable of challenging India’s strong line-up. Sahibzada Farhan is the standout example. He scored 57, 58 and 40 against India in last year’s T20 Asia Cup. Pakistan lost all three matches, but Farhan provided stability at the top of the order.

Farhan averages 38.75 in four T20I innings against India and has hit nine sixes against them — the most by a Pakistan batter in T20Is. He has also spoken about hitting Bumrah for a six in an advertorial documentary. The final gives him another opportunity to face India’s premier fast bowler.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

For Pakistan, Farhan remains the key batting threat. Saim Ayub, Hasan Nawaz and Abdul Samad will also need to contribute more consistently after Pakistan’s uneven semi-final chase.

India will look to Sanju Samson for a stronger performance after he was bowled for seven against Sri Lanka. Samson has struggled to score quickly against Pakistan in T20Is, although his record comes from only two innings, both in the same Asia Cup.

Fifteen-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is another player attracting attention after coming into India’s XI for the semi-final. Abhishek Sharma is expected to open alongside him, while Iyer, Kishan and Tilak Varma add experience to the middle order. Shivam Dube provides another power-hitting option.

THE SPIN BATTLE

Spin could be central to the final. Pakistan are expected to retain their four-spin combination, with Abrar and Sufyan likely to shoulder most of the workload and Saim and Arafat providing additional options.

India have Axar, Washington and Bishnoi as their principal spinners, while Abhishek can also be used if the conditions demand it.

If the surface offers significant turn, the middle overs could determine the contest. Batters who attack spin effectively can change the momentum quickly, while a cluster of wickets could put either side under pressure.

TEAM NEWS

India left Arshdeep Singh out of the semi-final and used Bumrah as their only frontline seamer. Arshdeep has therefore not bowled in the tournament.

India could bring him back for the final to share the pace-bowling responsibility with Bumrah, although the management may also retain the combination that defeated Sri Lanka and opt for an additional spin option.

Pakistan are expected to stick with their four-spinner strategy given the conditions.

India’s predicted XI: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson (wk), Shreyas Iyer (capt), Ishan Kishan, Tilak Varma, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Ravi Bishnoi, Jasprit Bumrah.

Pakistan’s predicted XI: Sahibzada Farhan (capt), Maaz Sadaqat, Usman Khan (wk), Saim Ayub, Hasan Nawaz, Abdul Samad, Arafat Minhas, Ahmed Daniyal, Mohammad Wasim, Sufyan Moqim, Abrar Ahmed.

WHAT IF RAIN WASHES OUT THE FINAL?

Rain has already affected several matches at the Asian Games, but the rules for the final are different from those used at Hangzhou 2023.

In Hangzhou, India were awarded gold after their final against Afghanistan was washed out because they had the better ranking.

At Aichi-Nagoya 2026, an abandoned India-Pakistan final will instead go to a Super Over to determine the gold-medal winner. If the Super Over also cannot be completed because of weather, both teams will share the gold medal.

WHERE TO WATCH INDIA VS PAKISTAN?

The India-Pakistan men’s cricket final will be streamed live on Sony LIV in India. Television coverage will be available on Sony Sports 1, with regional-language coverage on Sony Sports 3 in Hindi and Sony Sports 4 in Tamil, Telugu and Kannada.