Asian Games 2023: Indian team’s first match against Malaysia, Smriti Mandhana will be the captain

New Delhi. The Indian men’s cricket team will be seen facing Australia from September 22 before the World Cup 2023. But meanwhile the Indian women’s cricket team will be in action from Thursday. Actually, the Asian Games have started at this time, although its formal start will be from 23rd, but the games have started even before that. This time cricket has also been included in it.

Women’s and men’s teams will be seen showcasing their talent. The first match of the men’s team will be played on October 3, where the senior players are not playing, hence the responsibility of captaincy has been given to Ruturaj Gaikwad. Meanwhile, the women’s cricket team will be seen playing in the Asian Games 2023 from Thursday. On the basis of ICC rankings, the Indian team has got a direct place in the quarter-finals.

Indian women’s cricket team’s first match against Malaysia

The Indian women’s cricket team will be seen facing Malaysia in the first match of the Asian Games on 21st September. The way the Indian team has performed in the last few matches, it seems that the team will win the gold, but for that the first hurdle will have to be overcome. In this, the responsibility of captaincy will be in the hands of Smriti Mandhana, although the captain is Harmanpreet Kaur, but she will not be able to captain in the first two matches. The reason for this is the ban.

In fact, when the matches were being played between India and Bangladesh in July, the ICC had banned Harmanpreet Kaur from two matches for violating the code of conduct. That means Harmanpreet will not be able to play in the quarter-finals and semi-finals. After this, if Team India enters the finals then they can make a comeback there.

Team India has been shining in Asia

The Indian team has to compete mostly with Asian teams only. So let us try to understand how Team India has been performing so far in the Asia Cup. Actually, eight seasons of Asia Cup have been played so far. In this, the Indian women’s team has captured it seven times. In the year 2018 also, Team India had reached the finals, but there the Indian team was eliminated after losing to Bangladesh. From 2004 to 2008, ODI format i.e. 50 over Asia Cup was played, which Team India won continuously. But since 2012 it is being played on T20 format.

Four tournaments have been played so far, out of which Team India has won it three times. The special thing is that in the Asian Games also, cricket will be on T20 format, that is, 20 over matches will be played. If we talk about the ranking of Team India, the women’s team is at number four. Whichever team the Indian women’s team will face in the Asian Games, Team India is ahead in terms of head to head. But there are some teams in which the Indian team has never played, in such a situation they will face each other for the first time. There will be every possibility of a tough competition at that time.

The post Asian Games 2023: Indian team’s first match against Malaysia, Smriti Mandhana will be the captain appeared first on Agniban.