VVS Laxman:<\/b> India head coach VVS Laxman described the team\u2019s successful Asian Games title defence as a \u201cspecial\u201d achievement after the men\u2019s cricket team beat Pakistan by 19 runs to win the gold medal in Nisshin, Japan on Saturday.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cIt\u2019s definitely special, you know, to defend the gold medal. Two years back, we won in China, and again now. I feel really happy for the players, because it\u2019s definitely an honour, something different for our players. A lot of them have won the World Cup, but for many of them, this is the first time they\u2019re winning the gold medal. I\u2019m sure it\u2019s a matter of great pride for all of them,\u201d Laxman told reporters.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Abhishek Sharma's breathtaking 61 off 28, Tilak Varma's unbeaten 51 off 22 and an all-round effort from Washington Sundar, Axar Patel and Shivam Dube helped India clinch back-to-back Asian Games gold medals in men's cricket as they beat Pakistan by 19 runs in a thrilling final.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n\r\n
India produced a brilliant, breathless and golden finish after posting 211\/6 in 20 overs, with Abhishek setting the tone with the fastest fifty by an Indian against Pakistan in T20Is before Tilak and Dube provided a late flourish.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cSo, I feel really happy. I thought we really stuck together and played well. It was quite challenging since we came to Japan. You know, the rain followed us in Tokyo and then to the venue here. But overall, I think the team really played well, and I\u2019m very happy with the result,\u201d he said.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n\r\n
But Pakistan were not going down without a fight and were powered by a magnificent 96 off 51 from Hasan Nawaz. But India's spinners and all-rounders held their nerve in a frenzied finish, with Dube taking the wicket of Nawaz on the final ball to end Pakistan's innings at 192 for 6 and sending the Indian players into wild celebrations.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The Indian women's team had also won a gold after beating Sri Lanka in the final.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n\r\n
But Pakistan were not going down without a fight and were powered by a magnificent 96 off 51 from Hasan Nawaz. But India's spinners and all-rounders held their nerve in a frenzied finish, with Dube taking the wicket of Nawaz on the final ball to end Pakistan's innings at 192 for 6 and sending the Indian players into wild celebrations.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Also Read: <\/b> Special Cricket Stories<\/a><\/p>\r\n\r\n