India and Pakistan are set to meet in the final of the men’s cricket event at the 2026 Asian Games on Saturday, with the gold medal at stake in what promises to be one of the tournament’s biggest clashes. India booked their place in the summit clash with a commanding 124-run win over Sri Lanka, while Pakistan secured a six-wicket victory against Bangladesh in a rain-affected semi-final. However, weather could become a major factor in Nisshin, with rain forecast around the time of the final.
India’s dominant win sets up blockbuster final
India entered the final after producing a comprehensive performance against Sri Lanka in their semi-final. After being asked to bat first, Shreyas Iyer’s side posted 169/7 from their allotted 20 overs. Ishan Kishan played an important role with the bat, helping India put together a competitive total on a challenging surface. The Indian bowling attack then took complete control of the contest.
Jasprit Bumrah, Axar Patel and Abhishek Sharma claimed two wickets apiece as India dismantled Sri Lanka’s batting lineup. The island nation was eventually bowled out for just 45, handing India a massive 124-run victory and confirming their place in the gold-medal match.
Pakistan, meanwhile, reached the final after defeating Bangladesh by six wickets. In a shortened contest, Pakistan successfully chased down a target of 112 with nine deliveries remaining to book their place in the summit clash.
Rain could decide the fate of the gold medal
While the focus is firmly on the India-Pakistan rivalry, the weather forecast in Nisshin could add an unwanted layer of uncertainty to the final. According to AccuWeather, there is a 62% chance of rain during the morning, although the probability is expected to fall to 25% by the afternoon. Temperatures are forecast to remain around 20 degrees Celsius, while cloud cover is expected to be approximately 37%.
The possibility of rain is particularly significant because the rules for the 2026 Asian Games differ from what happened during the previous edition. At the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou, India were awarded the men’s cricket gold medal after their final against Afghanistan was washed out. India were declared champions because they were the higher-ranked T20I side. That rule will not apply this time.
Also READ: India storm into Asian Games 2026 gold medal match after thrashing Sri Lanka
Who will win gold medal if rain washes out the Asian Games 2026 final
Under the rules for the ongoing Asian Games, if the India-Pakistan final is abandoned without a result, the gold medal will be shared by both finalists. That would mean there would be no outright winner if rain prevents the match from producing a result, with India and Pakistan both receiving gold medals.
India are appearing in only their second Asian Games cricket competition and are looking to defend the gold medal they won in Hangzhou. Interestingly, the two arch-rivals have not faced each other in any of India’s five Asian Games matches since the 2023 edition.
Also READ: Asian Games 2026: Pakistan beat Bangladesh in rain-shortened semi-final to reach Gold Medal match