ഏഷ്യൻ ഗെയിംസ് ക്രിക്കറ്റ് ഫൈനലിൽ പാകിസ്ഥാനെ തോൽപ്പിച്ച് ഇന്ത്യ സ്വർണം നേടിയത് ഏറെ സന്തോഷകരമാണെന്ന് ബിസിസിഐ സെക്രട്ടറി ദേവജിത് സൈക്കിയ പറഞ്ഞു. അഭിഷേക് ശർമ്മയുടെയും തിലക് വർമ്മയുടെയും തകർപ്പൻ ബാറ്റിംഗ് മികവിൽ ഇന്ത്യ 211 റൺസ് നേടിയിരുന്നു. വൈറ്റ് ബോൾ ക്രിക്കറ്റിൽ ഇന്ത്യ ഒരു സൂപ്പർ പവറാണെന്ന് ഈ വിജയം ഒരിക്കൽ കൂടി തെളിയിച്ചിരിക്കുകയാണ്.
BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia hailed India’s men’s cricket team (Image: IANS)
BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia hailed India’s dominant run in white-ball cricket after the men’s team defeated Pakistan by 19 runs in the Asian Games final, saying the victory once again underlined the country’s strength in the format. “It felt very good. A very delightful victory against Pakistan. It is always sweetest when we win the match against Pakistan, especially in all international tournaments. In the Asian Games, another gold came. So, I think India is a superpower in white-ball cricket nowadays,” Saikia told IANS. India clinched their second consecutive Asian Games gold in men’s cricket with a high-quality performance at Korogi Sports Park on Saturday. After winning the toss, captain Shreyas Iyer opted to bat and India posted a formidable 211/6, powered by Abhishek Sharma ’s explosive 61 off 28 balls and Tilak Varma ’s unbeaten 51 off 22.
Abhishek’s blazing fifty sets up India’s big total
India suffered early setbacks with Vaibhav Sooryavanshi (15) and Sanju Samson (4) dismissed cheaply, but Abhishek turned the momentum around in the Powerplay. The left-hander smashed seven sixes and three fours, bringing up his half-century in just 20 balls, the fastest fifty by an Indian against Pakistan in T20 internationals. He eventually fell for 61 at a strike rate of 217.85. Tilak then took charge at the death, combining with Shivam Dube for a crucial 62-run sixth-wicket stand.
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Tilak remained unbeaten on 51 off 22 balls, while Dube contributed 27 off 15 as India surged past 200.
Hasan Nawaz threatens before India’s bowlers hold nerve
Pakistan mounted a spirited chase despite the imposing target, with Hasan Nawaz leading the counterattack. He smashed 96 off 51 balls and kept Pakistan in contention deep into the innings. However, India’s spinners and all-rounders maintained their composure in the middle overs. Washington Sundar and Axar Patel applied the pressure before Dube produced the decisive moment, dismissing Nawaz with the final ball of the innings. Pakistan were eventually bowled out for 192, handing India a 19-run victory and their second successive men’s cricket gold at the Asian Games.