Asian Games 2023: India men's cricket team wins gold medal after rain washes out final against Afghanistan

The India men’s cricket team on Saturday won gold medal at the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou, despite their final against Afghanistan being washed out due to rain. India won the gold by virtue of a higher seeding. The Men in Blue, led by Ruturaj Gaikwad, had won the toss and opted to field first. The start of the game was delayed due to a wet ground. Apart from unbeaten knocks from skipper Gulbadin Naib (27*) and Shahidullah (49*), there wasn’t nothing much notable from the Afghanistan batters.

Well done #TeamIndia! 🇮🇳

The @Ruutu1331-led side clinch a Gold 🥇 Medal at the Asian Games! 👏👏#IndiaAtAG22 | #AsianGames pic.twitter.com/UUcKNzrk0N

— BCCI (@BCCI) October 7, 2023

Afghanistan got off to their worst possible start to the final, losing their top three for single figures. Zubaid Akbari (5), Mohammad Shahzad (4) and Noor Ali Zadran (1) were dismissed inside the first four overs, leaving the task cut out for the Afghanistan middle. Afzar Zazai (15) got off to a start before breing cleaned up by Ravi Bishnoi, while Karim Janat (1) was also bowled by Shahbaz Ahmed. Zazai and Shahidullah were involved in a 37-run stand for the fourth wicket, before the former departed. Shahidullah would then go onto build an unbeaten 60-run stand with Gulbadin Naib (27*) before rain played spoilsport. For India, Ravi Bishnoi, Arshdeep Singh, Shivam Dube and Shahbaz Ahmed picked up a wicket each. Brief scores: Afghanistan 112/5 in 18.2 overs (Shahidullah 49 not out) vs India. (Match abandoned, IND win gold by virtue of higher seeding)