In the aftermath of their landmark victory against Pakistan, Shreyas Iyer couldn’t hide his delight as India clinched the gold medal in the Asian Games men’s cricket competition. Reflecting on the triumph, Iyer described his emotions as “ecstatic”, acknowledging the significance of the team’s collective effort in overcoming challenging conditions.
The weather in Japan proved to be an adversary throughout the tournament. “Since the day we arrived in Japan, it was raining cats and dogs, and we couldn’t practice for almost a week,” Iyer shared after the match. “But the boys, the way they prepped themselves, and also we were doing our training on the side… we didn’t complain, we didn’t give any excuses; that was the sign of a champion team, and today was just the reflection of that.”
Indeed, the rain hampered all the semi-finalists equally—India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka—but India perhaps benefited marginally from a short game against Japan before the tournament, which offered them a slight edge in understanding local conditions. India reached the final by defeating Sri Lanka, while Pakistan overcame Bangladesh to set up the much-anticipated clash.
In the final, India posted an imposing 211 for 6, a total well above the average given the prior conditions in Nisshin. Pakistan’s chase started tentatively and, at the midway mark, they were struggling at 76 for 3. Hasan Nawaz, however, injected some life into their innings with a spirited 96 off 51 balls.
“They were cruising pretty well, and they got that momentum in between,” Iyer commented on Pakistan’s innings. “I just wanted to see to it that I get that fifth bowler [out of the way] as soon as possible, finish it off, and then [Jasprit] Bumrah was there, Washy [Washington Sundar] was there.”
Despite a valiant effort from Nawaz, the bowling unit, anchored by Bumrah and Sundar, ensured India maintained control post the 14-over mark. “I basically paced their [fifth and sixth bowlers’] overs pretty well, that’s what I felt… and one wicket is going to change the momentum,” Iyer noted, highlighting a pivotal dismissal which shifted the game in India’s favour.
Abhishek Sharma and Tilak Varma delivered key half-centuries, while Shivam Dube contributed a quick-fire 27. The bowlers then executed their plans with precision, each playing their part to perfection. “When you’re playing a final, you want each and every individual to step up and deliver, and that’s what we witnessed today,” Iyer remarked, underscoring the importance of concerted team effort in securing the win.
India’s triumph, characterised by tactical acumen and resilience, was a testament to their status as a formidable cricketing side, echoing the achievements of their female counterparts earlier in the Games.
