Asian Games: The Indian women's cricket team and the men's cricket side will be playing at the Asian Games for the very first time as the Chinese city of Hangzhou will host some of the top teams having a crack at each other. The Indian Men's team will be captained by Ruturaj Gaikwad, while Smriti Mandhana will be leading the Women's side in Harmanpreet Kaur's absence. The Games get kicked off on September 23 but a few competitions get underway on September 19.
The women's cricket competition took place on September 19 as Indonesia, Mongolia, Hong Kong and Malaysia played their matches. But the Indian women's team did not participate on the first day of the sport getting underway.
Why Indian women's team did not participate on September 19?
There are eight teams in the Women's competition of cricket. Cricket in the Asian Games is being played in a T20 format. Four teams have earned direct entries into the quarterfinals due to their higher rankings and the Indian team is one of them. Notably, the teams which were ranked top four in T20Is in Asian sides have earned a direct entry into the quarterfinal. India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh were the top four Asian teams in the rankings and earned the spot in the last eight.
The remaining four teams will be decided with results from the preliminary rounds. There are two groups of two teams each. Indonesia and Mongolia faced each other in the first game, which was won by Indonesia by a big margin of 172 runs. The loser of the match will face the loser between Hong Kong and Malaysia in the quarterfinal qualifier.
The first-ranked team from the Group stage will face India, while 2nd ranked team will take on Pakistan. The third-ranked team will face Sri Lanka, while the last-ranked one will take on Bangladesh. India Women will be playing their first game on September 21.
India need just three wins to win Gold
The Indian team needs just three wins to win a Gold medal at the Hangzhou Asian Games. As they will be playing their first game in the quarterfinals, two wins will take them into the final and another one will secure a Gold medal for the Women in Blue.
Here is complete schedule of Cricket event in Asian Games
1. Indonesia vs Mongolia (Group A), Tuesday, September 19, Pingfeng Cricket Field
2. Hong Kong vs Malaysia (Group B), Tuesday, September 19, Pingfeng Cricket Field
3. Loser 1st Match vs Loser 2nd Match (Qualifier), Wednesday, September 20, Pingfeng Cricket Field
4. India vs TBC (QF 1), Thursday, September 21, Pingfeng Cricket Field
5. Pakistan vs TBC (QF 2), Thursday, September 21, Pingfeng Cricket Field
6. Sri Lanka vs TBC (QF 3), Friday, September 22, Pingfeng Cricket Field
7. Bangladesh vs TBC (QF 4), Friday, September 22, Pingfeng Cricket Field
8. Winner QF 1 vs Winner QF 4 (Semi-final 1), Sunday, September 24, Pingfeng Cricket Field
9. Winner QF 2 vs Winner QF 3 (Semi-final 1), Sunday, September 24, Pingfeng Cricket Field
10. Loser SF 1 vs Loser SF 1 (3rd Rank game), Monday, September 25, Pingfeng Cricket Field
11. Winner SF 1 vs Winner SF 1 (Final), Monday, September 25, Pingfeng Cricket Field
