After the women’s team, the Indian Men’s cricket team also win gold over Afghanistan in Asian Games. Although it did not come off the manner in which they would have preferred. The final got called off due to rain in Hangzhou. India, being the higher seeded side of the two teams, have been crowned as the champions.
India beat Bangladesh in semifinal game on their way to final. The playing eleven was same as the previous match under Ruturaj Gaikwad’s captaincy. Due to rain match got 20 minutes delay. After that India won the toss and selected to bowl first in the moisture-laden track after rain. Indian bowlers were on fire. Shivam Dube and Arshdeep got the two openers within the powerplay time. Then the spinners, Ravi Bishnoi and Sai Kishore picked two more. The fourth-wicket pair of Shahidullah Kamal and Afsar Zzai scripted a 37-run stand. After Zazai’s dismissal, Shahidullah and skipper Gulbadin Naib fought back from 52 for 5. With an unbeaten half-century stand, they managed to move Afghanistan over to 112 for 5 in 18.2 overs.
After that rain started playing and overs started to reduce. Match halted for long time. Then after certain time of wait, the final match between India and Afghanistan called off due to rain. India have been crowned as the champions by virtue of being the higher seeded side among the two teams. So, another gold for India from Asian Games 2023.