“Matter of great pride”: Rajeev Shukla hails India’s Asian Games gold win
BCCI VP Rajeev Shukla celebrates India's thrilling gold medal victory against Pakistan at the Asian Games 2026.
In a moment of immense sporting triumph, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) Vice-President Rajeev Shukla expressed his overwhelming joy following India’s spectacular gold medal victory over Pakistan in the men's cricket final at the 2026 Asian Games. The victory, achieved in Japan, marks another significant milestone for Indian cricket on the international stage.
A Triumph Over Unfamiliar Conditions
Speaking to ANI from Meerut, Shukla emphasized that the win was particularly impressive given the challenges faced by the squad. He noted that the Indian players had to adapt quickly to wicket conditions that were largely unfamiliar to them.
"This is a matter of great pride that today we won the gold medal in cricket in the Asian Games by defeating Pakistan, and our players performed very well. If we look at the wicket conditions there, our players were not that familiar with the wicket there. Despite this, they performed very well," Shukla remarked.
He further attributed the success to the continuous growth and strategic efforts of the BCCI, pointing out that India's dominance in cricket is being felt across various formats and tournaments, including the Asia Cup and the World Cup.
Match Highlights: India Defeats Pakistan by 19 Runs
The gold medal clash was a high-octane encounter that saw India post a formidable total of 211/6 in their allotted 20 overs. The Indian batting lineup displayed incredible aggression to cross the 200-run mark.
The Batting Blitz
- Abhishek Sharma: Set the tone with a blistering 61 runs off just 28 deliveries.
- Tilak Varma: Played a crucial unbeaten knock of 51 off 22 balls.
- Shivam Dube: Provided late momentum with a quick-fire 27 off 14 balls.
The Bowling Defense
Chasing a massive target of 212, Pakistan struggled to keep up with the required run rate despite a heroic individual effort. Hasan Nawaz played a magnificent innings, scoring 96 runs from only 51 balls, but he lacked support from the other end.
The Indian bowling unit maintained disciplined pressure to ensure the victory. Washington Sundar, Axar Patel, and Shivam Dube were the pick of the bowlers, each claiming two vital wickets to restrict Pakistan and secure the 19-run win.
Expanding the Talent Pool
Beyond the immediate victory, Shukla highlighted the incredible depth of talent currently available in Indian cricket. He noted that the ability to field different squads for different series—such as the ongoing series against the West Indies—is a testament to the growing "bank" of players.
"Our players' bank has increased so much that through this we can give opportunities to all the players and there is victory everywhere, this is the most pleasant thing," Shukla added.
India's overall performance at the 2026 Asian Games continues to be stellar, with the nation having amassed a total of 83 medals so far, including 20 gold, 26 silver, and 37 bronze.