Team India's skipper Shreyas Iyer heaps praise on Vaibhav Sooryavanshi

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In the Asian Games 2026, the Indian men’s cricket team clinched a gold medal by securing a win by 19 runs against Pakistan.

During the match, Team India’s young opening batsman Vaibhav Sooryavanshi played a knock of 15 runs in nine balls, including two maximums.

Despite a poor outing, Team India’s skipper Shreyas Iyer heaped praise on the left-handed batsman by saying that when his time comes, Sooryavanshi will dominate Indian cricket. The skipper also said that the 15-year-old cricketer is a very quiet person, but is very destructive when he takes the field.

“I keep interacting with Vaibhav in terms of what he does outside the field, because everyone talks to him about cricket, and we know how talented and gifted as an individual he is. So, just to talk about his lifestyle outside, that interaction, knowing about his family, what he does, what not, that excites him more because he’s more of himself when he talks about it. And a very silent guy, but on the field, is very destructive. So, that’s like an irony when you look at him. He’s a very charming, sweet guy to interact with and good to have him around the dressing room,” he said on JioStar.

“I know that his time will come, because we have been playing with World Cup-winning openers right now, and they deserve the time out there and he’s still in the 15. So definitely, when his time comes, he is going to dominate Indian cricket,” added Iyer.

Asian Games 2026, IND vs PAK: Match summary

In an attempt to chase a target of 212 runs, Pakistan managed to reach 192 runs for the loss of six wickets in 20 overs.

Pakistan’s opening batsman Maaz Sadaqat departed on 23 runs in 18 balls, including three boundaries. Captain Sahibzada Farhan scored 10 runs in 11 balls, which included a boundary.

Wicketkeeper-batsman Usman Khan was dismissed on three runs in six balls. Hasan Nawaz missed his well-deserved century by just four runs. Facing 51 balls, Nawaz smashed 96 runs, with the help of five boundaries and seven maximums. Saim Ayub also managed to accumulate 29 runs in 22 balls, including two boundaries and a maximum.

Abdul Samad departed on nine runs in nine balls, including a boundary. Saad Masood stayed unbeaten on 12 runs in five balls, which included two maximums.

Team India’s Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, and Shivam Dube bagged two wickets each. Jasprit Bumrah, Ravi Bishnoi, and Abhishek Sharma went wicketless in the Asian Games 2026 final against Pakistan.

Earlier, having opted to bat first, Team India’s opening batsman Vaibhav Sooryavanshi was dismissed on 15 runs in nine balls, including two maximums. Fellow opening batsman Abhishek Sharma returned to the pavilion after scoring 61 runs in 28 balls, including three boundaries and seven maximums. Wicketkeeper-batsman Sanju Samson departed on two runs in four balls.

Ishan Kishan lost his wicket after scoring 20 runs in 18 balls, including three boundaries. Skipper Shreyas Iyer was dismissed on 21 runs after facing 24 balls. His knock also saw him smash two boundaries.

Tilak Varma garnered an unbeaten 51 runs off just 22 deliveries. His knock was laced with three boundaries and four maximums. Shivam Dube returned to the pavilion after scoring 27 runs in 15 balls, including two boundaries and the same number of maximums. Axar Patel stayed unbeaten on one run in one ball. With this, the “Men in Blue” posted a total of 211 runs for the loss of six wickets in 20 overs.

Pakistan’s Ahmed Daniyal and Arafat Minhas claimed two wickets each. Saim Ayub and Abrar Ahmed also bagged one wicket each. Saad Masood and Sufiyan Muqeem went wicketless in the Asian Games 2026 final against Team India.

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