India claimed their second consecutive T20 cricket gold medal at the Asian Games by defeating Pakistan in Japan, yet the same day saw their one-day international campaign end in defeat against the West Indies following a standout batting performance from Shai Hope.
In the Asian Games final, India posted a competitive 211 for six from their 20 overs. The innings was anchored by Abhishek Sharma, who scored 61 off 28 deliveries including seven sixes and three fours, while Tilak Varma contributed an unbeaten 51 from just 22 balls and Shivam Dube added a quickfire 27 off 15.
Pakistan’s chase began poorly, slipping to 39-3 before Hasan Nawaz fought back with a resilient 96 off 51 balls. However, the visitors ultimately fell short, finishing on 192-6 and losing by 19 runs. The victory marked India’s seventh straight T20I win over Pakistan across 18 encounters in the format.
Meanwhile, in a separate fixture in New Chandigarh, India’s ODI hopes were dashed as the West Indies successfully chased down a target of 352 with 10 balls to spare. Visiting captain Shai Hope delivered a masterclass, remaining unbeaten on 162 off 143 balls, which included 17 fours and three sixes. His knock, his 21st ODI century and second of the series, secured a five-wicket win for the tourists.
Hope’s innings reached its climax with a slog sweep over deep fine leg off spinner Naman Dhir to equal the score, followed by a driving single to long-off to seal the victory. The match also featured a contentious moment when Sherfane Rutherford was given out caught behind off Dhir for 24; although the on-field decision was upheld upon review, replays suggested the spike may have been bat on pad rather than bat on ball. Rutherford’s dismissal left the West Indies at 206-3 after 30 overs.
India’s total of 351-7 was built on a strong foundation despite an early collapse to 4-2. KL Rahul top-scored with an unbeaten 129 off 87 balls, supported by Rohit Sharma’s 92 from 85 deliveries and Ruturaj Gaikwad’s 57 off 69. West Indies bowler Jayden Seales caused early damage by dismissing both Shubman Gill and Virat Kohli with successive balls in the third over. Gill, who had scored an unbeaten 223 in the previous match to help India chase down 406, edged behind for just one run, while Kohli was bowled for a golden duck, his middle stump flattened.
Hope, who had kept wickets for 50 overs before opening the batting, shared key partnerships, including a 109-run stand with Amir Jangoo (67) and half-century collaborations with Keemo Paul (44) and Gudakesh Motie (19).
The two teams are set to face each other in a five-match T20 series starting in Lucknow on Tuesday. Players such as Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Shreyas Iyer, and 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi are expected to join the squad following the Asian Games triumph. India previously won gold on their Asian Games debut in China in 2022, having competed in every edition since 2010 except for the 2018 Games in Indonesia. The next Asian Games is scheduled to take place in Qatar in November 2030.
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