India and Nepal are currently playing in the first quarterfinal in the ongoing men’s cricket event in the Asian Games 2023 in Hangzhou, China. India won the toss and elected to bat first. Yashasvi Jaiswal, who has had a stellar start to his international career, went berserk in the Powerplay and carried on once the field restrictions were lifted. The pitch at the Pingfeng Campus Cricket Field wasn’t the easiest to bat on as spinners were getting decent spin.
However, the southpaw showed no signs of intimation, scoring a blistering 49-ball 100, with the help of eight fours and seven sixes. Jaiswal was eventually dismissed by Sandeep Lamichhane for 102, but by then, India had already reached 150 in the 15th over.
Rinku Singh and Shivam Dube put the finishing touches with an unbeaten 22-ball 52-run partnership as India finished on 202/4 in their 20 overs. In reply, Nepal lost Aasif Sheikh in the fourth over, as Avesh Khan dismissed him caught behind with 29 runs on the board.
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Sompal Kami and Kushal Bhurtel tried to rebuild the innings, but they were both dismissed by Yuzvendra Chahal in the 10th over. Nepal were eventually bowled out for 124 in the 18th over, as India won the match by 78 runs. Talented left-arm orthodox bowler Ravisrinivasan Sai Kishore was handed his debut cap ahead of the match. During the national anthem, the 26-year-old got emotional as he was seen in tears.
Sai Kishore gets emotional during the national anthem.#AsianGames2023#indiaVsNepal pic.twitter.com/xJurAQlbWO
— Dhruv Jaiswal (@whatever_money) October 3, 2023
Sai Kishore in tears during the national anthem…!!!
He is making his International debut for India. pic.twitter.com/dBKBjR4Wgj
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) October 3, 2023
Sai Kishore has had a few impressive seasons in the Tamil Nadu Premier League and the Indian domestic circuit. He was picked up by Chennai Super Kings at his base price of INR 20 lakhs in the Indian Premier League (IPL) auction ahead of the 2020 season of the cash-rich tournament. He was part of the Chennai squad that won the 2021 edition of the IPL by beating Kolkata Knight Riders in the final. However, the Chennai-born didn’t get a game in the two seasons he spent with the team.
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In the mega auction ahead of IPL 2022, Sai Kishore was roped in by one of the two new teams – Gujarat Titans for INR 3 crore. The youngster made his IPL debut in a game against Lucknow Super Giants on May 10, 2022, and went on to play a total of five matches in that season, picking up six wickets at 20.17. The Titans went on to win the tournament. He was a part of the side in the 2023 edition of IPL but didn’t get a game.
His numbers in T20 cricket are quite impressive. In 49 T20s, Sai has picked up 57 wickets at an average of just 16.91 and has an impeccable rate of just 5.48. He could play a crucial role for the ‘Men in Blue’ as they aim to win gold at the Asian Games for the first time.
