Shreyas Iyer 'ecstatic' after 'collective effort and comprehensive win' over Pakistan
Tilak Varma and Shreyas Iyer figure out what gold tastes like • Getty Images
"Since the day we arrived in Japan, it was raining cats and dogs, and we couldn't practice for almost a week," Iyer said on the broadcast after the game. "But the boys, the way they prepped themselves, and also we were doing our training on the side… we didn't complain, we didn't give any reasons [excuses], so that was the sign of a champion team, and today was just the reflection of that."
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The weather affected all the semi-finalists - Bangladesh, India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka - equally. If anything, by playing Japan in a one-off T20I prior to the Asian Games, though it was only a five-overs-a-side contest (in Sano) because of the weather, India had a bit more of a feel of the conditions in Japan than their main opponents when all four quarter-finals were spoilt.
Pakistan reached the gold-medal round after beating Bangladesh, while India got there after getting the better of Sri Lanka. In the final, it seemed like one-way traffic after India put up 211 for 6, well above par going by the conditions in Nisshin prior to this game. After ten overs in the chase, Pakistan were nowhere in the picture at 76 for 3. But Hasan Nawaz put in a solo act, scoring 96 in 51 balls, to make it a contest for a while.
"Well, they were cruising pretty well, and they got that momentum in between. I just wanted to see to it that I get that fifth bowler [out of the way] as soon as possible, finish it off, and then [Jasprit] Bumrah was there, Washy [Washington Sundar] was there," Iyer said. "The lead bowlers, they wanted to come in as well."
Pakistan were in the game after 14 overs, with 86 needed from 36 and both Nawaz and Saim Ayub in the middle with Abdul Samad to follow. But the asking rate kept going up from there, and Pakistan were always playing catch-up.
"I basically paced their [fifth and sixth bowlers'] overs pretty well, that's what I felt, and especially when the run rate is about 13 to 14, we know that the batsmen they are going to take charge, and one wicket is going to change the momentum, shift the momentum towards us," Iyer said. "So that's what happened, and that crucial wicket of [Ayub] - I don't remember the name of the batsman - that changed the momentum."
From India's point of view, it was a team effort. Abhishek Sharma and Tilak Varma scored quick half-centuries and Shivam Dube hit a 15-ball 27 after India opted to bat, and Axar Patel, Washington and Dube picked up two wickets each.
"When you're playing a final, you want each and every individual to step up and deliver, and that's what we witnessed today," Iyer said. "Abhishek giving us that start, and then Tilak basically finishing off the innings… and then in bowling, Washy taking the charge, Axar being himself all the time, and Bumrah, we know what he has got in his armoury. So, yeah, collective effort and overall I would say comprehensive win."
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