India Vs Afghanistan, Asian Games 2023, Men's Cricket Final: IND Win Gold Medal Despite No Result - Here's Why

The India men's cricket team added to the growing list of gold medals on the 14th and final day of the Hangzhou Asian Games, with one of their own. The Indian bowlers, led by leg-spinner Ravi Bishnoi and left-arm seamer Arshdeep Singh, had done well to restrict Afghanistan to 112/5 in 18.2 overs when it began raining and the match was stopped. The rain did not abate in time, and eventually the match had to be called off without India getting a chance to bat. However, the Indian team was still awarded the gold medal. (Scorecard | Full Coverage | Cricket News)

This was because the rules for the cricket competition in the Asian Games 2023 state that if there is no result in any match, the team holding the higher seeding will be awarded that match. The Indian men's team is currently number 1 in the ICC T20I rankings, while Afghanistan are number 10. 

A similar event had occurred during the women's competition, where India were awarded their quarterfinal against Malaysia despite it being a no result. The Indian women are currently ranked fourth in the ICC women’s T20 international rankings, while Malaysia sit at the 27th spot. 

As a result, India had advanced to the semifinals and eventually become the Asian Games champions, beating Sri Lanka in the final by 19 runs. On Saturday, the men followed suit as India swept the gold medals in the cricket competition.

Though the final could not be completed, India did come across as the better side on the day and also all through the competition, never giving their opponents any shot at victory. Before Saturday's game, India had beaten Bangladesh by nine wickets in the semi-finals and Nepal by 23 runs in the quarter-finals.