Check out why India grab Gold medal in Asian Games 2023 T20 cricket tournament despite washed out final match

India and Afghanistan clashed against each other in the Asian Games 2023 T20 Cricket tournament’s gold medal match in Hangzhou on Saturday, October 7. Both the teams worked hard to earn their places in the final, however, the contest was washed out due to rain and the Men in Blue were declared the winner and won the gold medal.

But do you know why India were declared as the winner? The contest was interrupted by rain when Afghanistan’s score was 112/5 after 18.2 overs. Unfortunately, the match had to be abandoned and India won the match because of their higher T20 ranking, while Afghanistan, who had previously won silver medals at the Guangzhou 2010 and Incheon 2014 tournaments, had to settle for silver once again in Hangzhou.

The Indian men’s cricket team won the gold medal in their first appearance at the Asian Games. Cricket had been featured in the Asian Games in the past (in 2010 and 2014), but India had chosen not to participate in those editions. Earlier, the Indian women’s cricket team also secured a gold medal in the women’s T20 competition.

Bangladesh won the bronze medal

Talking about the match, India won the toss and opted to bowl first and their decision proved right as the Indian bowlers provided a brilliant start. They sent Afghanistan’s 3 batters back to the pavilion inside the mandatory powerplay and the batting side were railing on the score of 12/3. 

However, Shahidullah Kamal steadied the ship played a responsible knock of 49 runs and also stitched a brilliant 70-run stand for the 6th wicket with skipper Gulbadin Naib. However, the rain gods had different things in their minds due to which the play never resumed.

The Bronze medal was won by the Bangladesh team who defeated Pakistan on the same day. This game was also affected by the rain and was reduced to 5 overs per side after which Bangladesh smashed 65 runs in 5 overs and clinched the Bronze medal.