“We Have Not Seen Them Compromise on Intensity”: VVS Laxman Hails India’s Cricket Gold
India retained their Asian Games cricket gold medal after beating Pakistan by 19 runs in a high-scoring and tense final in Nagoya. Despite limited preparation and persistent rain disrupting their time in Japan, India held their nerve when it mattered most to defend the title they won at the previous Games in Hangzhou.
After posting 211, India were pushed hard by Pakistan, but their bowlers produced the decisive moments as the game tightened. For captain Shreyas Iyer, the victory was about refusing to be overwhelmed by the occasion and trusting the work the team had managed to put in.
“This is definitely a huge occasion when you are playing Pakistan in the final,” said Shreyas. “The whole country is watching and you have that kind of pressure.
“But I told my teammates, let’s not get carried away by the occasion. We need to stick to what we have been doing right. Even though we didn’t get much opportunity to practise, today was the right opportunity for us to show our character and attitude. Every individual displayed that on the field.”
India’s preparations had been far from ideal. Persistent rain after their arrival in Japan meant the team had limited opportunities to train outdoors, forcing them to make the most of indoor sessions and whatever facilities were available.
Iyer felt that made the gold even more significant.
“It was very different because you come to a country where cricket is not worshipped that much, and Japan is a beautiful country,” he said. “We loved it when we arrived because of the discipline and the amount of culture this country has.
“The facilities were limited, but we were absolutely aware of what was going to happen. When you come to the Asian Games, you are expected to win. You have to maximise whatever you get, and we had that at the back of our minds.”
India head coach VVS Laxman was particularly pleased with how the players dealt with the lack of preparation.
“For me, that was the highlight of the tour,” Laxman said. “We hardly had any practice sessions and hardly had any preparation. Because of the weather, we were not able to access the ground. But mentally, every one of them was really switched on.”
Laxman said the players maintained their intensity even when they could not train normally.
“That’s what you expect at the highest level, individually, can they prepare to the best of their abilities, irrespective of how challenging the conditions may be? We have not seen them compromise on intensity at all in the two games we played, the semi-final and the final.”
He also reserved praise for the ground staff and organisers, who managed to produce a playable surface despite the heavy rain.
“The amount of rain we had, and for them to get through the last two rounds, special mention to the ground staff and the organisers,” said Laxman. “The way the pitch played today in the final, a high-scoring final, was great to see.”
The gold also comes at an important time for cricket, with the sport now part of the Olympic programme. Laxman believes the Asian Games experience will provide additional motivation for Indian players ahead of cricket’s Olympic return.
“Playing in the Olympics, or participating in the Olympics itself, is a matter of great honour for any athlete representing their country,” he said. “I’m sure that the team which goes there will do everything possible to play to their potential and get the desired result.”
For Shreyas, however, the Asian Games were about more than cricket. The Indian captain said the team followed the performances of athletes across disciplines and drew inspiration from their determination.
“We’ve been hearing a lot about all sports,” he said. “Every individual is working hard towards success. Even if you don’t get it, it is important that you keep building your confidence and see to it that you get it once in a lifetime for sure.”
India arrived in Nagoya expecting to win gold. Despite the rain, disrupted preparation and limited facilities, they delivered.
The post “We Have Not Seen Them Compromise on Intensity”: VVS Laxman Hails India’s Cricket Gold appeared first on Sports News Portal | Revsportz.
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