Shreyas Iyer wins toss and elects to bat in Asian Games final
The two captains avoided the customary handshake as India chose to bat first in the gold-medal match against their arch-rivals.
India captain Shreyas Iyer won the toss and elected to bat first against Pakistan in the Asian Games men's cricket gold-medal match on 3 October 2026. Iyer and Pakistan captain Sahibzada Farhan did not shake hands at the toss at Korogi Sports Park in Nisshin.
India fielded an unchanged side from the semi-final with Jasprit Bumrah as their lone frontline seamer. Pakistan made one change, bringing in Saad Masood ahead of Mohammad Wasim Jr. Both teams have remained unbeaten in the tournament.
India reached the final after beating Sri Lanka by 124 runs. Pakistan advanced by beating Bangladesh by six wickets in a rain-shortened semi-final. Rain has disrupted multiple matches at the venue throughout the tournament.
CricHubb Take
The absence of a handshake at the toss reflects how political tensions continue to shape on-field protocols even as the teams prepare for a high-stakes contest.