India batter Ruturaj Gaikwad was on Friday (July 14) named the Indian men's cricket team captain for the Asian Games 2023, slated to be held in Hangzhou, China from September 23 to October 8.

The likes of Yashasvi Jaiswal, Arshdeep Singh, Rinku Singh, Tilak Varma, Jitesh Sharma and Washington Sundar have also been picked in the 15-member squad for the continental event.

A day after the squad announcement, Gaikwad expressed his delight on being named captain and said that the aim would be to win the gold medal.

"The dream will be to win a gold medal, stand on the podium and listen to the National anthem for the country," Gaikwad said in a video posted by the BCCI.

The BCCI has picked a second-string Indian team for the Asian Games as the event is clashing with the 2023 ODI World Cup, slated to be held in India from October 5 to November 19.

"I think this opportunity is something special and we will play a brand of cricket that would make everyone back home proud," Gaikwad said.

"It will be really exciting to represent the country in the Asian Games and win the medal for the country.

"It's something that we always grew up watching on TV, seeing athletes win it for the country. To get he opportunity, go out there and win the medal will be really, really special."

"Playing for India itself is really a proud feeling, and leading the side in such a big event, will be a great opportunity for me personally, and also all the team members who are alongside me."

With the Indian team undergoing a transition phase, it will be a big opportunity for Ruturaj Gaikwad to prove his mettle.

While cricket was part of the 2010 and 2014 editions of the Asian Games, India didn’t field a team. In 2018, cricket was left out of the Asiad in Jakarta but it is set to return in China this year.

(With PTI Inputs)