Cricket, which was previously featured in the Asian Games held in Guangzhou (2010) and Incheon (2014), will see the Indian Cricket Team playing fewer matches at the upcoming Asian Games 2023 in China. Led by Ruturaj Gaikwad, the team will participate in a limited number of matches due to their status as one of the seeded teams.
The Indian Cricket Team will directly enter the quarter-finals of the Asian Games 2023, a prestigious continental event scheduled to take place in Hangzhou, People’s Republic of China, from September 23 to October 8.
As per the announcement by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), the Indian men’s cricket squad for the Asian Games 2023 will comprise 15 players along with five standby players, with Ruturaj Gaikwad leading the Men in Blue.
Due to their high ranking, India will receive a significant advantage, allowing them to start their campaign from the quarter-finals stage. All the matches will be held at the Pingfeng Cricket Field of Zhejiang University of Technology.
In the men’s competition, a total of 18 teams will participate, playing a combined total of 18 matches. The teams will be seeded based on their ICC T20I ranking as of June 1, 2023. Consequently, India is expected to be among the top four seeded teams.
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Given that the ICC Men’s ODI World Cup is scheduled to begin in India on October 5, the Indian team in Hangzhou will primarily consist of second-string players, with notable regulars such as Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli being absent.
The Indian team for the Asian Games will feature several exceptional young players, most of whom have made a mark in the Indian Premier League (IPL). Leading the team in Hangzhou will be Ruturaj Gaikwad, a 26-year-old cricketer from the Chennai Super Kings.
Arshdeep Singh, the leading wicket-taker for Punjab Kings in IPL 2023, has been named in the squad. Yashasvi Jaiswal from the Rajasthan Royals, who made a century on his Test debut against the West Indies, has also been included. Rinku Singh, known for his powerful hitting for the Kolkata Knight Riders in IPL 2023, receives his maiden call-up to the Indian national team this season.
Cricket at the Asian Games has witnessed two editions thus far, with Sri Lanka being the reigning champion and Bangladesh winning the inaugural event. Afghanistan finished as the runners-up in both competitions.
This marks the second time the Indian men’s cricket team will participate in a multi-sport event, following their appearance in a 50-over tournament at the 1998 Commonwealth Games in Kuala Lumpur. However, those games were classified as List A and did not receive international recognition.