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The Indian men’s cricket team have clinched the gold medal at the Asian Games for the first time ever, after the final against Afghanistan got abandoned due to rain at the Zhejiang University of Technology Cricket Field in Hangzhou. Team India were awarded the gold medal by virtue of having a higher seeding in the Asian Games 2023 on October 7, Saturday, after the weather had a final say on the cricket program in China.
Follow: Asian Games 2023 Medal Tally
After the gold medal winning triumph from the Indian women’s cricket team at the Asian Games 2023 a few days ago, the Men in Blue have walked into their footsteps with an unbeaten campaign at the knockout stage. Notably, this was the first time India had sent their cricket teams to the Asiad, since the sport was introduced to the multi-sporting continental event during 2010 in Guangzhou.
For the unversed, the captain of India, Ruturaj Gaikwad won the toss to send Afghanistan into bat first at the Zhejiang University of Technology Cricket Field. Indian bowlers picked up three quick wickets in the powerplay, including a controversial one of Mohammad Shahzad to put the opposition on the backfoot.
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It led to Shahidullah joining Afsar Zazai in the middle, with both stitching together a valuable 37 run partnership for the fourth wicket to keep Afghanistan interested in the final. After the fall of two wickets in back-to-back overs, the captain Gulbadin Naib and Shahidullah got a 60 run unbeaten stand, before the rain came down in Hangzhou with the score reading 112/5 in 18.2 overs.
