In an unexpected turn of events, the Asian Games 2023 men’s cricket tournament concluded with India seizing the gold medal due to superior T20 rankings, as the final clash against Afghanistan was abandoned due to rain in Hangzhou, China.
Making their debut appearance in this prestigious event, the Indian men’s cricket team secured the coveted title, marking a historic moment in their cricketing journey.
India had chosen to skip the cricket competition in the previous two editions of the Asian Games (2010 and 2014).
On the other side, Afghanistan endured the agony of settling for their third consecutive silver medal in the Asian Games men’s cricket, despite their commendable performances throughout the tournament.
The win didn’t remain exclusive to the men’s team, as the Indian women’s cricket squad also won in the T20 tournament, securing a double gold for their nation.
The climactic showdown at the Pingfeng Campus Cricket Field saw India’s strategy of opting to bowl first paying dividends, as the Afghan batting lineup struggled, finding themselves at a precarious 12/3 by the fourth over.
Shivam Dube and Arshdeep Singh, with their precise bowling, accounted for the early wickets, including that of both Afghan openers. Adding to Afghanistan’s woes, Noor Ali Zadran was run out in a mix-up.
Amidst the wreckage, Shahidullah Kamal displayed remarkable resilience, crafting an innings of 49 not out off 43 balls to anchor Afghanistan’s innings.
The Indian spinners applied relentless pressure, making it arduous for the Afghan batsmen to accumulate runs. Ravi Bishnoi, in particular, delivered a standout performance, conceding only 12 runs in his four overs while dismissing Afsar Zazai.
With the scoreboard reading 112/5 in 18.2 overs, the final between India and Afghanistan was abruptly halted by the persistent rain and was ultimately abandoned.
India was declared champions by virtue of their superior T20 ranking, while Afghanistan, who had previously claimed silver medals in Guangzhou 2010 and Incheon 2014, had to content themselves with another silver in Hangzhou.
India’s path to the gold included a quarter-final victory against Nepal, where they won by 23 runs, and a convincing nine-wicket win against Bangladesh in the semi-finals.
Earlier in the day, Bangladesh secured the bronze medal in a thrilling last-ball encounter against Pakistan. Rain interruptions resulted in a truncated five-over match, with Bangladesh chasing a revised target of 65 runs.
