Aichi-Nagoya [Japan], October 6 (ANI): VVS Laxman, head coach of the India males’s group on the Asian Games 2026, praised the facet’s adaptability and preparation after India gained the gold medal in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan.
India defeated arch-rivals Pakistan by 19 runs within the males’s cricket ultimate held on the Korogi Sports Park in Nisshin on Saturday to efficiently defend their gold medal.
In a video posted on the Board of Control for Cricket in India’s (BCCI) Instagram deal with, Laxman, who can also be Director of Cricket on the BCCI Centre of Excellence (CoE), mentioned that the group confronted challenges associated to climate, journey and restricted follow alternatives in Japan. However, he praised the gamers for staying dedicated, sustaining their health and benefiting from each probability to coach.
“Right from the time we came to Japan, we were challenged by weather, travel, lack of good practice sessions and preparation, but not even once did I feel that the team, all the players in the squad, were not eager to get ready for the big match. I felt that they were all well prepared; even though we were indoors, everyone did their fitness sessions, and whenever we got the opportunity to go and practice at the venue, we did that. So, overall, really happy with the way the outcome has come,” he mentioned.
Laxman lauded the group’s adaptability, saying the gamers maintained a constructive {and professional} strategy regardless of difficult circumstances in each the semi-final and ultimate.
“And one thing which I’m really proud of is the adaptability they’ve shown. Because irrespective of the challenging conditions or circumstances, not once were they inflexible in the way they approached both the games. We know that the semifinals were on a tough wicket, but they showed positive intent. And again in the finals, with the bat, with the ball, I thought they were very professional.”https://www.instagram.com/p/DeI2UaHzKix/
Batting first within the ultimate, India posted a commanding 211/6 in 20 overs because of Abhishek Sharma’s blistering 61 off 28 balls. Tilak Varma remained unbeaten on 51 off 22 balls, whereas Shivam Dube chipped in with a fast 27 off 14 deliveries.
Chasing 212 for victory, Pakistan mounted a powerful problem, led by Hasan Nawaz, who smashed 96 off 51 balls. However, India’s bowlers held their nerve within the closing phases to limit Pakistan to 192/6.
Washington Sundar, Axar Patel and Dube claimed two wickets every as India efficiently defended the whole.
It was two in two for India as this victory got here after India’s ladies’s group additionally defeated Sri Lanka within the gold medal conflict, finishing a memorable double for the nation in cricket on the ongoing Asian Games.
Laxman additionally praised captain Shreyas Iyer’s management qualities, calling him a gamers’ captain who leads by instance, prepares completely, prioritises health and has a pointy tactical understanding of the sport.
“It’s just the start of his captaincy career, but I’m sure that he’ll achieve a lot of success. And he’s a player’s captain. He makes everyone very comfortable and leads by example, whether with the bat or on the field. Even before the team meetings, he sits down with the plans of the strengths and the weaknesses of the opposition. And he’s very thorough in the way he prepares. Puts a lot of emphasis on fitness,’ he said.
‘I’m sure that he’ll have a very successful tenure as a captain. He’s a fabulous leader of players. Tactically very, very smart, very sharp. Â He understands the strengths of every player of his team, and he knows how to get the best out of them. And especially in T20, I think you need to be one or two steps ahead of the opposition. And the way he assesses the opposition’s strengths and weaknesses prepares really well, and that’s something which I’m very happy about,” he added.
The former Indian Test maestro mentioned the circumstances and pitch in Japan had been higher than these within the 2023 Asian Games in China, the place matches had been typically low-scoring. He famous that the Indian groups in each Japan and China, regardless of having totally different ranges of expertise, tailored effectively to circumstances not like these in IPL or worldwide cricket. Notably, India gained gold medals in each the lads’s and girls’s cricket competitions on the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou, China as effectively.
“I think the conditions, the ground, are much better than what we experienced in China. Even the wicket, I mean, I was quite pleasantly surprised that the wicket played well in the finals. Because in China it was all low-scoring games. One thing is that, in China, when we went, a lot of youngsters were part of that team here; a lot of senior players, experienced players who’ve already been part of the World Cup-winning team, are here. But both the teams adapted to the conditions. They also realise and recognise that it’s not going to be the same as they experienced when they’re playing IPL or international,” he mentioned.
Laxman mentioned each Asian Games campaigns in China and Japan offered totally different challenges, however the gamers tailored effectively to safe the specified gold-medal outcomes. He referred to as the achievements a matter of nice satisfaction, noting that cricketers not often get the chance to face on the rostrum and obtain a gold medal.
“Both the games in China and in Japan had their own set of challenges, and I’m happy that both the group of players again adapted and adjusted and got the desired result for the country because ultimately the aim and goal for all of us, whether in China or here in Japan, was to win the gold, because not very often do we as cricketers experience being on a podium and receiving the gold medal. So, I think that’s a matter of great pride for both the teams in China and in Japan,” he mentioned.
Laxman credited the organisers for efficiently conducting the Asian Games 2026 knockout matches regardless of heavy rain and praised the collective efforts of the choice committee, group administration, Centre of Excellence and the BCCI for offering camps and growth programmes to nurture the way forward for Indian cricket.
“Give a lot of credit to the organisers. Make sure that both the semifinals and both the finals and the third bronze medal match happened seamlessly because the amount of rain we experienced right from the time we came to the venue, for them to have two good days of cricket, shows that the organisers worked really hard, worked tirelessly to make this, you know, tournament a success. Collective effort of the selection committee, the team management, the Centre of Excellence, above all, BCCI for giving us all the opportunity to have various camps, various pathway and development programs where we can nurture the future of Indian cricket,” he mentioned.
Laxman mentioned India’s sturdy bench energy and abundance of expertise put the nation in a very good place, with correct mentoring and grooming key to sustaining progress. He highlighted the latest performances of the senior males’s group, India A, the Under-19 facet and the ladies’s group, saying continued nurturing of gamers will form the way forward for Indian cricket.
“If the bench strength is strong, it’ll only add to the depth of our national team. We’ve got an abundance of talent, players who will bring a lot of laurels to our country, not only now, but going forward over the next 5-10 years. It’s how we mentor them, it’s how we groom them and how we get the best out of them; that’s in our hands. But it’s great; I think the depth we have, we are in a very, very good position,” he mentioned.
“Not many countries are in this kind of a position. If the bench strength is strong, it will only add to the depth of our national team. And it’s great. We are dominating against West Indies in the One-Day series. India A beat Australia A in the four-day series. India Under-19 is doing well and is now winning the gold at the Asian Games. Plus, let us not forget the women’s cricket. They have got a lot of laurels for our country, winning the 50-over World Cup and then winning the gold at the Asian Games in Japan. So, overall, I think we are in a very good space. It’s how we continue to monitor them, continue to nurture and get the best out of them, that will define how Indian cricket progresses in the near future,” he added. (ANI)