In a thrilling encounter, Nepal, put up a valiant fight against India, and they secured their spot in the semifinals. However, we must applaud our own team for displaying an extraordinary fighting spirit that took everyone by surprise. The battle on the cricket field was nothing short of exceptional.

Contrary to expectations, Nepal pushed India to their limits, and it’s no exaggeration to say that we gave them a real scare today. We finished our innings at 179/9 in pursuit of their formidable 202/4. Despite having our team at 4 wickets down for just 77 runs, Dipendra Airee, Sundeep Jora, and Karan KC played some sensational shots, raising the possibility of a remarkable upset.

It was the experience and composure of the Indian bowlers that eventually averted a potential shocker. Arshdeep Singh and Avesh Khan, with their three wickets each, played crucial roles in securing the victory for them. However, it’s essential to acknowledge that there are areas for improvement for our team.

Avesh Khan made an early breakthrough, setting the tone for their defense. Debutant R Sai Kishore’s dismissal of Kushan Bhurtel added to the pressure on us during our chase. We faced a daunting required run rate, which led to the loss of wickets in quick succession.

The challenging situation for us came after Yashasvi Jaiswal’s outstanding performance with a 48-ball century, and Rinku Singh’s explosive innings, scoring 37 runs off just 15 balls, including four powerful sixes. These stellar performances allowed India to post a formidable 202/4 against us in the Asian Games 2023 cricket quarterfinal held in Hangzhou.

India’s captain Ruturaj Gaikwad’s decision to bat first proved crucial as their openers, Gaikwad and Jaiswal, set the stage for a formidable total. Jaiswal’s rapid half-century in just 22 balls was a sight to behold. Even though Gaikwad’s innings was cut short at 25, Jaiswal continued to impress. Despite a few setbacks, Jaiswal reached his century, contributing significantly to India’s total.

We want to commend the outstanding spirit displayed by our Nepali players. We fought valiantly and showcased our determination throughout the match. This spirited performance by Nepal adds to the charm of cricket and underscores the sport’s unifying power.

Congratulations to both teams for an enthralling contest, and we look forward to more exciting cricketing moments in the future