Cricket has been part of the Asian Games since 2010, and India successfully defended their men’s cricket gold at Aichi-Nagoya 2026, beating Pakistan by 19 runs in the final on 3 October 2026 at Korogi Sports Park, Nisshin.
That win made India the first nation to win the men’s title twice. Here’s the full list of Asian Games men’s cricket winners, how each final played out, the 2026 squad spotlight, and everything else fans want to know.
Asian Games Men’s Cricket Winners List: Full Medal History
Cricket has featured at four Asian Games editions — Guangzhou 2010, Incheon 2014, Hangzhou 2023 and Aichi-Nagoya 2026 — with three different nations winning gold.
| Year | Winner | Runners-up | Final Result | Host & Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Bangladesh | Afghanistan | Bangladesh won by 5 wickets | Guangzhou, China — Guangdong International Cricket Stadium |
| 2014 | Sri Lanka | Afghanistan | Sri Lanka won by 68 runs | Incheon, South Korea |
| 2023 | India | Afghanistan | No result; India won gold by higher seeding | Hangzhou, China |
| 2026 | India | Pakistan | India won by 19 runs | Aichi-Nagoya, Japan — Korogi Sports Park, Nisshin |
- Most men’s cricket golds: India (2) — the only nation to win the title more than once
- Nations with one gold each: Bangladesh (2010), Sri Lanka (2014)
- Most consistent runners-up: Afghanistan (silver in 2010, 2014 and 2023)
Asian Games 2010 Men’s Cricket Winners: Bangladesh’s Historic Gold
Bangladesh became the first-ever Asian Games cricket champions, topping a nine-team field in Guangzhou.
- Tournament played in T20 format at the purpose-built Guangdong International Cricket Stadium
- Pakistan’s Khalid Latif top-scored in the event with an unbeaten 103 against China — the first century in Asian Games cricket history
- India did not field a team in this edition
- Bangladesh beat Afghanistan by 5 wickets in the final
Asian Games 2014 Men’s Cricket Winners: Sri Lanka’s Maiden Title
Sri Lanka claimed gold at Incheon, defeating Afghanistan in the final to win their first Asian Games cricket title.
| Team | Score | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Sri Lanka | 133 (batting first) | Won |
| Afghanistan | 65 all out in 17.4 overs | Lost by 68 runs |
- Lahiru Thirimanne top-scored for Sri Lanka with a fifty
- Defending champions Bangladesh dropped to bronze in this edition
Asian Games 2023 Men’s Cricket Winners: India’s Debut Gold
India won gold on their Asian Games cricket debut at Hangzhou, after the final against Afghanistan was washed out by rain, with the title awarded on superior T20I rankings.
- Afghanistan posted 112/5 in 18.2 overs before the match was abandoned
- Shahidullah top-scored for Afghanistan with 49 off 43 balls; Gulbadin Naib was unbeaten on 27
- Ravi Bishnoi was India’s standout bowler, conceding just 12 runs in his four overs
- Afghanistan claimed a third straight silver medal
Asian Games 2026 Men’s Cricket Winners: India Defend Their Title
India successfully defended their men’s cricket title at Aichi-Nagoya 2026, beating Pakistan by 19 runs in a gold-medal thriller on 3 October 2026.
Final Scorecard
| Team | Score | Result |
|---|---|---|
| India | 211/6 (20 overs) | Won |
| Pakistan | 192/6 (20 overs, target 212) | Lost by 19 runs |
| India Top Performers | Contribution |
|---|---|
| Abhishek Sharma | 61 runs (20-ball fifty with 6 sixes in the powerplay) |
| Tilak Varma | 51 not out |
| Axar Patel | 2/29 |
| Washington Sundar | 2/29 |
| Pakistan Top Performer | Contribution |
|---|---|
| Hasan Nawaz | 96 off 51 balls (5 fours, 7 sixes) |
Road to the final:
- Pakistan beat Bangladesh by 6 wickets in Semi-Final 1
- India beat Sri Lanka by 124 runs in Semi-Final 2
- Captains in the final: Shreyas Iyer (India) and Sahibzada Farhan (Pakistan)
Medal table for 2026:
| Medal | Team |
|---|---|
| Gold | India |
| Silver | Pakistan |
| Bronze | Sri Lanka |
Player Spotlight: Abhishek Sharma, India’s Powerplay Destroyer
One player defined India’s 2026 title defence with the bat — Abhishek Sharma.
- Smashed a 20-ball half-century in the gold-medal final, including three fours and six sixes
- His powerplay onslaught propelled India to 81/2 inside the first six overs, setting up the eventual 211/6 total
- Named among Cricinfo’s top-rated performers of the match alongside Tilak Varma, Axar Patel and Washington Sundar
- His innings turned a competitive contest into a commanding platform that Pakistan, despite Hasan Nawaz’s 96, could not chase down
Tilak Varma’s unbeaten 51, including four sixes in the closing overs, was the other key batting contribution that pushed India past 200 — a total that ultimately proved just out of Pakistan’s reach.
Why Asian Games Men’s Cricket Winners Matter: Importance and Context
- Growing legitimacy: Asian Games cricket gold is now treated as a genuine T20I title, not an exhibition medal, with full-strength squads from major cricketing nations competing
- India’s dominance: Back-to-back golds in 2023 and 2026 mark India as the sport’s benchmark team at the Games
- Rivalry factor: The 2026 final extended India’s streak to seven consecutive T20I wins over Pakistan, adding extra weight to the gold-medal contest
- Format evolution: All four editions have been played in the T20 format, keeping the competition fast-paced and broadcast-friendly
Conclusion
From Bangladesh’s pioneering 2010 win to Sri Lanka’s 2014 title and India’s back-to-back golds in 2023 and 2026, Asian Games men’s cricket has built a compact but compelling history in just four editions.
India’s 19-run win over Pakistan on 3 October 2026, powered by Abhishek Sharma’s explosive fifty, cements their status as the sport’s most successful nation at the Games. With Afghanistan, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh all proven medal contenders, the next edition promises more of the same drama.
