After India overcame Pakistan to win the gold medal in the men's T20 cricket tournament at the 2026 Asian Games in Japan, bowling coach Sunil Joshi, cricketer Tilak Varma, and head coach VVS Laxman all expressed joy and pride.
India successfully defended its gold medal in the men's cricket final of the 2026 Asian Games in Japan on Saturday by defeating Pakistan by 19 runs.
The head coach of the Indian men's cricket team competing in the Asian Games in 2026, VVS Laxman, expressed delight at the squad's gold medal and commended the players for being composed under pressure.
"Very pleased with the way the team played; getting a gold in the Asian Games is a matter of great pride. And I think everyone played to their potential; defending the goal is also a very special moment for all of us... I think we are very lucky to have so many players who are so talented and hard-working and have a great work ethic, and also, most importantly, who have got a champion's mindset. So, it was great to see them play, even though they were challenged by the weather or the conditions, but I think they stepped up. Laxman told reporters that he believed they maintained their composure under pressure and achieved the desired outcome for the country.
India had opted to bat first and posted 211/7 in 20 overs, with Abhishek Sharma (61) and Tilak Varma (51*) being the main scorers, while Shivam Dube chipped in with a quick 27 off 14 deliveries. In the stiff chase of 212 runs, Hasan Nawaz led the charge with a sublime 96, but the Indian bowlers proved to be too good, as Pakistan was restricted to 192/6 in 20 overs.
Arriving at Hyderabad's Rajiv Gandhi International Airport, Tilak Varma said the squad was thrilled with the victory but acknowledged the difficulties of playing in different conditions in Japan.
"We are pleased after winning... Problems are bound to arise when playing cricket in a different country—the pitches, conditions, and weather are all different, so it takes some time to adapt—but everyone adapted well and brought home the gold," he told ANI.
Sunil Joshi, the Indian team's bowling coach at the Asian Games, praised the players on their overall efforts and emphasized Jasprit Bumrah's importance to the Indian squad.
"I think first and foremost, it's such wonderful news, happy news that we got so many golds, and we are in the fifth position in the table. And it's largely for all the athletes; the congratulatory messages across all sports should go. It's not only one sport. I think we are very proud of the way the athletes have performed very well... Bumrah's presence is very important for the Indian team. And it shows why he is the best in the world," he told reporters.
(ANI inputs)
