The Indian men's cricket team has guaranteed a medal at the Asian Games by beating Bangladesh by 9 wickets in the first semifinal. After keeping Bangladesh restricted for only 96/9, India started early in their chase but Yashasvi Jaiswal, the centurion from the previous game, fell in the first over. Tilak Varma and captain Ruturaj Gaikwad unleashed on the Bangladesh bowlers with fours and sixes and chased the target in just 9.2 overs.
Bangladesh were kept to inside 100 as India's bowlers put up a brilliant show. R Sai Kishore finished with 3/12 and Washington Sundar picked 2/15. After a rain delay, India's captain, Ruturaj Gaikwad, won the toss and chose to field. R Sai Kishore claimed India's first wicket, while Washington Sundar delivered two crucial blows in his second over.
The situation took a turn for the worse after the Powerplay, as the Bangladesh scoreboard painted a dismal picture at 45/5 with Indian spinners continuing to have a ball. Bangladesh's last 4 wickets could only add 51 more and put up 95.
Tilak Varma scored a fifty to end his poor run of form and scored an unbeaten 55 off 26 balls to guide India home. Tilak and Ruturaj Gaikwad added an unbeaten 97-run partnership to guarantee India a medal. They will be now looking for the Gold Medal when they will face a team amongst Afghanistan or Pakistan.
