India began their innings strongly, reaching 51 for one in just 3.3 overs against Pakistan in the Asian Games T20 cricket final on Saturday. Abhishek Sharma played a blistering knock of 32 runs off only 11 deliveries, following an explosive start from Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, who contributed 15 runs off nine balls.
Sanju Samson joined Sharma at the crease, currently on 2 runs, after Sooryavanshi was dismissed by offspinner Saim Ayub. Sooryavanshi fell attempting a reverse sweep on the first ball of Ayub’s second over. The ball took extra bounce, glanced off his glove, and was caught by wicketkeeper Usman Khan.
India won the toss and elected to bat first. Notably, there was no visible handshake between the captains, Shreyas Iyer of India and Sahibzada Farhan of Pakistan, as observed on television.
The innings started cautiously, with Ayub conceding just four runs in his opening over. However, the momentum shifted dramatically in the second over when legspinner Saad Masood leaked 24 runs. Sooryavanshi struck two sixes in that over—one over long-on and another pulled over midwicket off a short-pitched delivery. Abhishek Sharma also cleared the ropes with a six over mid-on. Masood then bowled a wide no-ball, which Sharma capitalized on by hitting a four off the subsequent free hit, carving the ball over covers and beyond the deep fielder.
Ayub returned for his third over, which went for 15 runs and included the wicket of Sooryavanshi. Sharma continued his aggressive batting, hitting a six over wide long-on and two fours, including a stylish reverse hit over the bowler’s shoulder. He then pulled seamer Ahmed Daniyal for another six in the following over.
Pakistan made one change to their side, bringing in Saad Masood for Mohammad Wasim Jr. Their spin-heavy bowling attack also features Abrar Ahmed, Sufiyan Moqim, and Saim Ayub, with Daniyal as the lone frontline fast bowler. India retained the same playing XI that defeated Sri Lanka in the semi-final, with Shivam Dube providing seam support alongside Jasprit Bumrah.
The Indian lineup includes Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson (wicketkeeper), Shreyas Iyer (captain), Ishan Kishan, Tilak Varma, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Ravi Bishnoi, and Jasprit Bumrah.
Pakistan’s team features Sahibzada Farhan (captain), Maaz Sadaqat, Usman Khan (wicketkeeper), Saim Ayub, Hasan Nawaz, Abdul Samad, Arafat Minhas, Ahmed Daniyal, Saad Masood, Abrar Ahmed, and Sufiyan Moqim.
