The India vs Pakistan Asian Games 2026 finalproduced an early talking point when Pakistan's Saim Ayub celebrated the dismissal of young India opener Vaibhav Sooryavanshi with a baby-cradle gesture.
The moment came during the men's cricket gold-medal match at Kōrogi Sports Park in Nisshin, Japan, on October 3. Sooryavanshi had made an aggressive start before Ayub provided Pakistan with an early breakthrough.
The celebration quickly attracted attention during one of the most closely watched matches of the Asian Games.
Saim Ayub Dismisses Vaibhav Sooryavanshi
India won the toss and chose to bat first, with Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and Abhishek Sharma opening the innings.
Sooryavanshi immediately looked to attack. He struck two sixes during his short stay at the crease and raced to 15 from nine balls.
Pakistan then introduced Saim Ayub into the attack, and the spinner made an immediate impact.
Sooryavanshi attempted a reverse sweep but got a faint edge through to wicketkeeper Usman Khan, who completed the catch after initially juggling the ball. India were 28/1 when the young opener departed.
Baby-Cradle Celebration Draws Attention
After completing the dismissal, Ayub performed a baby-cradle gesture, appearing to mimic rocking a baby.
The gesture attracted attention because of Sooryavanshi's young age. Several reports interpreted it as a reference to the Indian opener being a teenager, although Ayub's exact intention was not formally explained.
There was no major confrontation between the players following the incident, and the match continued.
The moment nevertheless became one of the early talking points of the high-profile gold-medal clash.
Sooryavanshi’s Quick Start Ends at 15
Sooryavanshi had shown attacking intent before his dismissal.
After initially settling in, he struck two sixes in the second over and appeared comfortable against Pakistan's new-ball bowling.
His innings ended at 15 off nine deliveries, including two sixes.
The dismissal gave Pakistan an early breakthrough, but India's other opener soon responded with an aggressive counterattack.
Abhishek Sharma Responds With the Bat
Ayub's celebration was followed by a strong response from Abhishek Sharma.
The Indian opener attacked Ayub during the same over, finding the boundary repeatedly and keeping India's scoring rate high.
Abhishek eventually produced one of the defining innings of the final, scoring 61 from 28 balls, including three fours and seven sixes.
His aggressive batting helped India recover quickly after the early loss of Sooryavanshi.
India Post 211/6
India continued their attack after the early wicket and eventually posted 211/6 in 20 overs.
Abhishek Sharma's 61 and Tilak Varma's unbeaten 51 from 22 balls were the major contributions as India reached the highest total of the tournament.
Tilak provided the late acceleration that pushed India beyond the 200-run mark.
Pakistan Fight Back Through Hasan Nawaz
Pakistan's chase was led by Hasan Nawaz, who produced a brilliant innings of 96 from 51 balls.
His aggressive batting kept Pakistan in contention deep into the chase, but India managed to control the scoring rate during the closing stages.
Pakistan eventually finished on 192/6, falling 19 runs short of India's target.
India Win the Asian Games Gold Medal
India held their nerve to complete a 19-run victory over Pakistan and retain the men's cricket gold medal.
The final scorecard read:
Team | Score | Result |
|---|---|---|
🇮🇳 India | 211/6 (20 overs) | Won by 19 runs |
🇵🇰 Pakistan | 192/6 (20 overs) | Lost |
The victory completed an unbeaten campaign for India and added another gold medal to their Asian Games cricket record.
Saim Ayub Celebration: Key Details
Detail | Information |
|---|---|
Match | India vs Pakistan, Asian Games 2026 Final |
Venue | Kōrogi Sports Park, Nisshin |
Batter dismissed | Vaibhav Sooryavanshi |
Score | 15 off 9 balls |
Bowler | Saim Ayub |
Celebration | Baby-cradle gesture |
India score | 211/6 |
Pakistan score | 192/6 |
Result | India won by 19 runs |
Final Word
Saim Ayub's baby-cradle celebration after dismissing Vaibhav Sooryavanshi became one of the most discussed moments from the India-Pakistan Asian Games final.
Sooryavanshi had made a fast start before departing for 15, while Ayub's celebration drew attention because of the teenager's age. The exact intention behind the gesture was not formally confirmed.
India ultimately had the stronger response on the scoreboard. Abhishek Sharma's 61 and Tilak Varma's unbeaten 51 helped India reach 211/6 before the bowlers restricted Pakistan to 192/6.
India therefore defeated Pakistan by 19 runs to win the Asian Games 2026 men's cricket gold medal.
