India wins gold medal in Asian Games cricket debut despite rain-marred final

Due to their higher seeding in the continental championship on Saturday, the Ruturaj Gaikwad-led Indian men's cricket team won the gold medal in their Asian Games debut after their final match versus Afghanistan was postponed due to rain.

When Afghanistan was given the opportunity to bat, they were 112 for 5 in 18.2 overs when the Zhejiang University of Technology Cricket Field was forced to call a halt to play. The game was never resumed after that point.

The Afghans got off to a shaky start and were down to 12/3 after four overs thanks to cheap wickets taken by their top three of Zubaid Akbari (six), Mohammad Shahzad (four), and Noor Ali Zadran (one).

When he had Akbari in his first over, Shivam Dube achieved the first breakthrough. Akbari perished after attempting a hook shot at the Indian pacer's rising delivery.

Shahzad, the wicketkeeper-batsman, was caught behind in the following over off a left-arm bowler Arshdeep Singh's (3-0-17-1) ball.

When Zadran was exhausted, the Afghans carried out a harakiri. After that, Shahidullah rejuvenated their innings by partnering with Afsar Zazai (15) and scoring an unbeaten 49 off 43 balls.

When leg-spinner Bishnoi (4-0-12-1) removed Zazai with a bad pitch, India responded by ending the 37-run partnership.

Shahbaz Ahmed, a left-arm spinner, castled Karim Janat for one run from the other end.

Ruturaj, the captain of India, said he was "disappointed" that the game had been called off because of the heavy rain.

"It was largely discouraging. Of course, we would have preferred to play the entire game and get a result, but that is something we have no control over. Around 5 o'clock, the match authorities came and informed us. The rain was getting heavier, so I believe we already knew pretty much everything.

"I'm quite proud, and it feels nice. Winning a medal is something we are not used to. Everyone is really enjoying it, and the mood is a little different and more emotional.

Gaikwad continued, "I think 140 or 150 is a pretty gettable target batting second because it's a small ground and the kind of batting we have, we were pretty confident that even 150 would have been chased down." In reference to the win target that his team could have reasonably expected to reach.

Gaikwad commented on guiding the Indian squad at the Games, saying it is a pressure-filled position.

Being the captain of India is always stressful because everyone expects you to win big everywhere you go. So, in my opinion, there are a lot of expectations attached. At the same time, you must be careful to keep your team in mind and avoid giving the game's outcome any thought.

"These people just made my job a little bit easier, so thanks to them. The players are more important than the captain. Everyone just delivered because whatever the captain decides is up to the players.

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