Former Indian skipper Sunil Gavaskar believes the game against Japan was a good pinch for the India’s T20I team ahead of Asian Games. India could only manage 32 runs in five overs in the one-off T20I against Japan on Tuesday.
The pitch was slow and low, and run-scoring was challenging for both teams. Furthermore, the outfield was slow because of rain. Eventually, India managed a two-run win but they were on the verge of a stunning loss against Japan, who are ranked 41st in the T20I rankings.
Shreyas Iyer top-scored for India with 16 runs off 12 balls but India lost four wickets in five overs.
Sunil Gavaskar wrote in his column for Mid-Day, “The game against Japan was a good pinch for the Indian team, where they were one good strike away from being beaten. That should keep them in fine fettle when they begin their campaign (Asian Games). They will have to be a bit watchful as the pitch is going to be uncertain, and the outfield with its softness is something where the sliding stop can be a bit of a concern too.”
Gavaskar said India’s women team winning the gold medal at the continental competition has put pressure on the men’s team.
“The women’s cricket team brought the first gold and their wins in the Asia Cup, and now the gold at the Asian Games has put some pressure on the men’s team to emulate them in getting the gold. There are also moments when a medal is lost by the merest of margins, and the tears of the athlete are also the tears of the entire nation’s sporting community.”
On the other hand, chief selector Ajit Agarkar will not continue his role after his contract expires on October 4. Gavaskar said it is always an honour to be national selector but it comes with a target mark on the back.
“There is, of course, the honour of being the Chairman of the national selection committee, but it also comes with a target mark on the back. Like with umpiring, wicketkeeping and now, commentary, the nine good things that have been done will be forgotten and the one so-called error will be magnified a hundred times and discussed over and over again,” said Gavaskar (via the aforementioned source).
India will take on Afghanistan in the quarterfinal of the Asian Games.
