Asian Games 2023: The Indian men's cricket team, under the captaincy of Ruturaj Gaikwad, secured their maiden gold medal. This achievement was realized after their highly anticipated final clash against Afghanistan was prematurely terminated due to adverse weather conditions, specifically rain. Mother Nature played an unexpected role as India was denied the opportunity to clinch victory on the field. However, their superior International Cricket Council (ICC) ranking came to their rescue, and they were awarded the coveted gold medal.
The final showdown, where Afghanistan was tasked with batting first, got off to a dismal start. Zubaid Akbari, the opener, was dismissed for a mere 5 runs off 8 balls, swiftly followed by the departure of his partner, Mohammad Shahzad, who managed just 4 runs. The initial breakthrough for India came courtesy of Shivam Dube, who removed Akbari, while Arshdeep sent Shahzad packing.
Afghanistan's hopes further dwindled as they suffered a mini-collapse with the quick dismissals of Noor Ali Zadran (1), Afsar Zazai (15), and Karim Janat (1), leaving them reeling at a meager 52/5. With half their side back in the pavilion, Afghanistan was in desperate need of a revival, and it arrived in the form of Shahidullah Kamal.
Batting at number five, Kamal exhibited remarkable resilience at the crease, crafting an unbeaten 49 runs from 43 balls, which included three boundaries and two sixes. This partnership between Kamal and Gulbadin Naib (27 off 24 balls) added an unbroken 60 runs for the sixth wicket. Unfortunately, the relentless rain interrupted proceedings, forcing the game to be called off. Nevertheless, it was a valiant fightback by Afghanistan, considering the challenging situation created by the Indian bowlers at the start of the final.
Notably, the 2023 Asian Games witnessed cricket being included in both the men's and women's categories for the first time, and India made history by securing gold medals in both. The women's team had previously triumphed over Sri Lanka to claim their elusive gold medal. In the men's category, the Gaikwad-led team achieved gold by virtue of their higher ranking, despite the washout in the summit clash against Sri Lanka.
Ruturaj Gaikwad etched his name in the annals of Indian cricket history by becoming the first captain to lead the men's team to a gold medal at the Asian Games. As the highest-seeded team, India had earned a direct entry into the quarter-finals, where they defeated Nepal before besting Bangladesh in the semi-finals, securing their spot in the final.
Notably, this triumph came at a time when the senior team, led by Rohit Sharma, was preparing for their 2023 ODI World Cup opener against Australia in Chennai, scheduled for Sunday, October 08. It's worth mentioning that this Indian contingent at the Asian Games 2023 has now amassed a remarkable total of 102 medals, including an impressive haul of 27 gold medals.
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