India secured a second consecutive Asian Games cricket gold by defeating Pakistan in the T20 final, yet their One‑Day International side fell short of a 3‑0 series whitewash against the West Indies after Shai Hope’s unbeaten 162 steered the visitors to a historic chase of 352 runs. The Asian Games showdown, staged in Japan, saw India post a formidable 211 for 6 in their allotted twenty overs. The innings was anchored by a blistering 61 off just 28 balls from Abhishek Sharma, a composed 51 not out off 22 deliveries by Tilak Varma, and a quick‑fire 27 off 15 balls from Shivam Dube. Pakistan’s reply sputtered early, sliding to 39 for 3, and despite a valiant 96‑run knock from Hasan Nawaz off 51 balls, they could only muster 192 for 6, handing India a 19‑run victory.
This win marked India’s seventh straight T20 triumph over their arch‑rivals and their 14th win in the 18‑match T20 rivalry between the two nations, underscoring the dominance India has enjoyed in the shortest format. On the same day, however, the ODI series in New Chandigarh told a different story. West Indies, chasing a mammoth 352, pulled off a remarkable chase with ten balls to spare, thanks largely to captain Shai Hope’s scintillating 162 not out. Hope’s innings, his 21st ODI century and his second in as many matches, came off 143 balls and featured 17 fours and three sixes.
He capped his masterclass with a sweeping slog over fine leg off spinner Naman Dhir, leveling the scores before driving the decisive single to long‑off for the win. The West Indian side secured a five‑wicket victory, snapping India’s hopes of a clean sweep after earlier defeats in Thiruvananthapuram and Guwahati. The chase was not without drama.
Sherfane Rutherford was controversially given out caught behind off Dhir for 24 runs. A review upheld the on‑field decision, even though Rutherford argued that the sound on the Snicko sensor was a bat‑on‑pad contact rather than bat‑on‑ball. His dismissal left the West Indies at 206 for 3 after 30 overs, but Hope, who kept wickets for the full 50‑over innings before opening the batting, forged vital partnerships.
He added 44 runs with Keemo Paul and 19 with Gudakesh Motie, after an earlier 109‑run stand with Amir Jangoo, who contributed 67. India’s massive total of 351 for 7 had been built on a resilient recovery after an early wobble to 4 for 2. KL Rahul was the linchpin, blasting 129 not out off 87 deliveries, while Rohit Sharma supplied 92 off 85 balls and Ruturaj Gaikwad chipped in 57 off 69.
The top order also featured Shubman Gill, who was dismissed for a single, and Virat Kohli, who fell for a golden duck on the third ball of the innings, both victims of a fiery spell by West Indian pacer Jayden Seales. Seales had earlier flattened Kohli’s middle stump, and Gill was caught behind by Hope in a one‑handed diving effort. The series now shifts back to the T20 format, with a five‑match bilateral series slated to begin in Lucknow on Tuesday. India will call up several players from the Asian Games squad, including Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Shreyas Iyer and the 15‑year‑old prodigy Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, to bolster the side for the upcoming contests.
Cricket has featured in every edition of the Asian Games since its introduction in 2010, except for the 2018 Games in Indonesia. India made an immediate impact, winning gold on their debut in the 2022 Games in China, and have now reaffirmed that status with a second gold in Japan. The next edition of the Asian Games is scheduled for Qatar in November 2030, where cricket will once again be on the programme, offering further opportunities for nations to compete for continental glory. Overall, the day highlighted the contrasting fortunes of Indian cricket: dominance in the T20 arena and a hard‑earned gold medal at the Asian Games, juxtaposed with a humbling defeat in the 50‑over format that reminded the world of the unpredictable nature of the sport and the rising talent of players like Shai Hope, whose innings will be remembered as one of the finest chases in ODI history.