Curated By: Aakash Biswas
Last Updated: October 02, 2023, 18:16 IST
Team India’s head coach in Asiad, VVS Laxman
VVS Laxman, Indian cricket team’s head coach in the Asian Games, said they had never thought that they would be playing cricket in China.
While Rohit Sharm & Co gear up for the ICC World Cup 2023, a second-string Indian men’s is set to make its debut in the Asian Games. Under the leadership of Ruturaj Gaikwad, the Indian senior men’s team will lock horns with Nepal in the quarter-final on Tuesday morning and head coach VVS Laxman believes that it’s a matter of great pride for the youngsters who will be fighting for the gold.
On the eve of India’s quarter-final clash against Nepal at the Zhejiang University of Technology Pingfeng Cricket Field, Laxman said they had never thought that they would be playing cricket in China.
“Yes, it’s very different. We never ever thought that we would play cricket in China. But is a great opportunity for the entire team because participating in the Asian Games itself is a big opportunity and a matter of great pride for all these players. So, really looking forward to this tournament,” Laxman told reporters in Hangzhou.
Asked about the nature of the pitch and the possible playing eleven, Laxman, a legendary mainstay with the bat in the Indian Test side, said, “Unfortunately, we didn’t get to see the wicket as matches have been going on and hopefully, this afternoon, we get to see what wicket we play on. Based on that, we will come up with our strategies.”
Women’s team won gold
India won the Gold medal after defeating Sri Lanka by 19 runs in the Women’s T20I final of the 19th Asian Games. Bangladesh won the 3rd Place Play-off against Pakistan to clinch Bronze. This also marked the inaugural gold medal victory for the Indian women’s cricket team at the Asian Games, while the runners-up, Sri Lanka, secured the silver medal.
This was the first time that Pakistan returned without a medal in the women’s cricketing event. They won gold in the 2010 edition in Guangzhou and then in Incheon in 2014.
Cricket returns to the Asian Games
Cricket was part of the 2010 and 2014 editions of the Asiad. However, India didn’t field a team. Back in 2018, the cricket was left out in Jakarta but this year, it’s set to return in China. It was initially supposed to be held last year but was postponed due to the country’s zero-Covid policy.
