'Friends like family': Asian-games bound players pose together in Yashasvi Jaiswal's post

While the ICC ODI World Cup is the primary focus of all cricket lovers, one of the other tournaments that is scheduled to go underway a fortnight before the World Cup is the XIX Asian Games. Cricket is a part of the eminent games this time and contention for a podium finish from both Men's and Women's sides is set to be present. The men's team will be led by Ruturaj Gaikwad and Smriti Mandhana will take the helm of the females' side, Harmanpreet Kaur will take over from her if the team reaches the final.

3 things you need to know

• Ruturaj Gaikwad will lead Team India in the XIX Asian Games
• The XIX Asian Games will take place in Hangzhou, China
• Yashasvi Jaiswal made his debut on the West Indies tour

Also Read | Shafali Verma Scripts History, Becomes First Indian To Hit A Fifty At Asian Games

Yashasvi Jaiswal posts photo with the Asian Games squad

Ahead of the start of the campaign, Team India is set to take off for China and just before the departure, Yashasvi Jaiswal has posted a photo of the entire squad that will vie to raise the tricolor in Hangzhou. The picture showcases all the members of the team along with coach VVS Laxman. Jaiswal used the photo-sharing medium Instagram, to give an outlook of the side that is seen as the future. Along with the picture, he wrote the caption- Friends like family.

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Women's team kickstart their campaign on a winning note

While the men's team would have to wait, the Women's team has kicked off the campaign with a win. On Thursday, Team India squared off against Malaysia in a rain-effected match. Batting first, Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Varma gave India a blazing start. Both women scored freely and it became apparent that a huge total would be in the sights. At the score of 57, Mandhana held out, however, Varma and Jemimah Rodrigues continued to score at 10 in over. In the process, Varma became the first Indian to score a fifty in Asian Games. Rain made its presence felt but it resumed at the cost of 5 overs. After 15 overs India got to the total of 173. 

Only two deliveries were bowled in the Malaysia innings before rain came falling again. This time it took away all the time and eventually the match was called off. However, courtesy of better rankings, India are through to the semi-final.