India defeat Nepal by 23 runs as they inch closer to Asian Games Men T20I medal

India will play the winner of Bangladesh vs Malaysia quarter-finals on 6th October.

Team India are inching closer to the gold medal in Asian Games 2023 men’s cricket event as well. India defeated Nepal by 23 runs in the quarter-finals game played in Hangzhou. Team India have knocked down their Himalayan neighbours in a great all-round performance put up by a young squad looking to shine at a big level. India qualified for the semi-finals and will play on October 6.

Indian captain Ruturaj Gaikwad won the toss and elected to bat first against Nepal in the quarter-finals. Team India handed Jitesh Sharma and Sai Kishore their T20I debuts. Batting first, India had a magnificent start to their innings as Yashasvi Jaiswal and captain Ruturaj Gaikwad (25) added a 103-runs stand for the first wicket. Yashasvi Jaiswal went on to smash his first-ever T20I century in his career.

Yashasvi Jaiswal's maiden T20I century for India

Left-hand opening batter Yashasvi scored 100 runs in 49 balls with 8 fours and 7 sixes in his innings. Yashasvi provided a platform for Indian middle-order to aim for a big total, but India lost three wickets in quick succession when Tilak Varma (2) and debutant Jitesh Sharma (5) went back early. Rinku Singh (37 in 15 balls) and Shivam Dube (25 in 19 balls) took India out of the damage caused by middle-order batting.

They added 52 runs on 22 balls to finish India’s inning at 202. Chasing 203, Nepal had a few good stands in patches, but they couldn’t go on to build momentum in their chase. Sai Kishore (1/25) and Ravi Bishnoi (3/24) in the middle-overs curtailed Nepali batters. Dipendra Singh Airee (32 in 15 balls) smashed four sixes and took Nepal’s score close to the Indian total. It was a valiant batting effort from Nepal in their chase.

Nepal finished their innings at 179 runs with nine wickets going down. This raises a bit of concern about Indian pace bowling before they play their next game in the semi-final. Arshdeep Singh, Shivam Dube, and Avesh were leaking runs during the Nepal innings. India will meet the winner of the quarter-final 4 between Bangladesh vs Malaysia in the semi-final.