Shreyas Iyer says India's rain-hit Asian Games build-up showed champion mindset
Shreyas Iyer said India's refusal to complain about rain-affected preparations showed a champion mindset at the Asian Games.
India captain Shreyas Iyer said the team's refusal to complain about a disrupted build-up to the Asian Games final was a sign of a champion team after it beat Pakistan by 19 runs to retain the men's cricket gold medal on Saturday. India's preparations were heavily affected by rain, with the team arriving in Japan on September 20 and playing only a five-over-a-side game before travelling to Nagoya.
The quarterfinal against Afghanistan on September 28 was washed out, and India had its first proper training session only ahead of the semifinal against Sri Lanka on October 1. Iyer said the squad chose to adapt rather than make excuses.
India posted 211 for six before restricting Pakistan to 192 for six. Iyer praised the team's collective effort, highlighting Abhishek Sharma's start, Tilak Varma's finish and the contributions of Washington Sundar, Axar Patel and Jasprit Bumrah.
CricHubb Take
Iyer's comment is aimed at domestic critics. The team that does not complain about rain is the team that handles pressure.