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Ruturaj Gaikwad will lead the Indian team in Asian Games in China (Photo: IG / ruutu.131)
For the first time in Asiad history, the Indian men’s cricket team is also in the race for gold. Ruturaj Gaikwad will be in the captain’s shoes when his team takes the field on October 3 in Hangzhou.
Ruturaj Gaikwad and his Indian cricket team were in attendance at the Gongshu Canal Sports Park Stadium where Harmanpreet Singh’s Indian hockey team humiliated arch-rivals Pakistan in a Pool A clash of Asian Games. The 10-2 triumph on the hockey field was a perfect trailer for the cricketers, making their competition debut, giving them an idea of how winning in the Asian Games feels like.
For the first time in Asiad history, the Indian men’s cricket team is also in the race for gold. They will have to cross three hurdles to grab the yellow metal, just like the women’s cricket team did a few days ago.
Onus on Ruturaj
The 26-year-old will be in the captain’s shoes when his team takes the field on October 3 in Hangzhou.
Ruturaj comes to China with the confidence he gained in the recently-concluded Austraila ODIs at home. This Indian team doesn’t have big names like Virat Kohli or Rohit Sharma but it does have some youngsters who are aiming to make a name for themselves.
That obviously would test Ruturaj’s strength as a captain at a new stage – the Asian Games.
Three wins and and you script history – that’s the deal. But before Ruturaj and his energetic buddies have a crack at it, News18 Cricketnext asked former wicketkeeper-batter Saba Karim about his opinion on ‘Captain of Team India’.
Karim, in a select media interaction organised by Sony Sports Network, said Ruturaj is the only player in the squad who has prior leadership experience, across all formats in the domestic circuit, and that’s why is the leader of the pack.
“Exciting time for him and I think the selectors look at him as a leader. He has done well while leading Maharashtra in the last couple of seasons. He has led his state in all three formats – in the Ranji Trophy, in Vijay Hazare and the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy as well. Among all these players who have been picked for the Asian Games he is the only one who has led a state side,” Karim said.
“So, given that kind of background and experience, that’s why the selectors have gone ahead with him as the captain. Obviously, it means that somewhere down the line, they are looking at Ruturaj Gaikwad as a part of the leadership group, if he continues to progress the way he has in the past couple of seasons,” he added.
‘Need to put up your best possible XI’
Unlike other multi-nation cricket tournaments, the no. of games in Asiad is the fewest – only three. India are pre-qualified for quarter-finals by virtue of their ICC T20I rankings and in other words, start the campaign straight from the knockouts.
Karim said the management must pick their best XI for every game and prepare accordingly.
“So, it’s a knockout multi-nation tournament and the Indian men’s and women’s are participating for the first time ever. So, that’s a big challenge for India and you need to put up your best possible XI and prepare properly to win all the matches. That’s the only way you can win the gold medal. And in Asian Games, both men’s and women’s teams are firm favourites to win the gold medal. I think that’s how the team management would look at it,” Karim said.
The former selector further said it’s a great opportunity for India to shine, given that they have faltered in several big knockout matches.
“All these players, be it in men’s team or women’s, have got enough experience to win such encounters. Having said that, I do believe that India have faltered in big knockout matches. So, this is a good opportunity to do well and get the gold the Asiad gold for India,” he added.
(Watch the extensive coverage of the 19th edition of the Asian Games LIVE on the Sony Sports Network)
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