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Deepak Sharma’s Blazing Knock and Captain Jatin Saxena’s Leadership Power India to Historic Title
Chhattisgarh:
India Legends etched their name in history by winning the inaugural Asia Legends Cup 2026 after defeating Bangladesh Legends in a thrilling final played on Thai soil. In a high-voltage encounter, Deepak Sharma’s sensational batting and captain Jatin Saxena’s calm leadership guided India to become the first Asian champions of the tournament.
Indian Bowlers Dominate as Bangladesh Restricted to 123 Runs
After winning the toss, Bangladesh Legends captain Dhiman Ghosh opted to bat first, but the decision backfired as Indian bowlers put up a disciplined performance.
Tournament’s leading wicket-taker Mohammad Kaleem Khan continued his impressive form, claiming 2 wickets in the final, while Kapil Rana also picked up 2 crucial wickets.
Amardeep Sonkar bowled an economical spell, conceding just 6 runs in 3 overs and taking 1 wicket. Mother Basappa chipped in with 1 wicket as Bangladesh Legends were bundled out for 123 runs.
For Bangladesh, Sadat (22), Imtiaz Hussain (21) and Sadikur Rahman (21) showed resistance, while Mukhtar Ali remained unbeaten on 14.
Deepak Sharma’s 74-Run Blitz Turns the Game Around
Chasing a modest target of 124, India Legends suffered a disastrous start, losing 3 wickets for just 10 runs and slipping to 49 for 5. Bangladesh bowler Alok Kapali wreaked havoc with a fiery spell, picking up 4 wickets and pushing India on the back foot.
In the midst of the crisis, Deepak Sharma rose to the occasion and played a match-winning knock of 74 runs, smashing 4 fours and 5 sixes. Supported well by skipper Jatin Saxena, who remained unbeaten on 21, Sharma steered India Legends to victory in just 18.4 overs.
Chhattisgarh’s Mohammad Kaleem Khan Named Man of the Series
Mohammad Kaleem Khan, an Inspector in the Chhattisgarh Police, delivered an outstanding all-round performance throughout the tournament, bringing pride to the state.
He emerged as the tournament’s highest wicket-taker with 12 wickets and also scored 70 runs, earning him the prestigious Player of the Tournament (Man of the Series) award.
Kaleem Khan was also adjudged Man of the Match in league encounters against Sri Lanka and Pakistan.
Strong Contribution from Chhattisgarh Players
Three players from Chhattisgarh represented India Legends in the tournament:
- Jatin Saxena (State Bank of India) – Captain
- Mohammad Kaleem Khan (Chhattisgarh Police)
- Chandrashekhar Khunte (Forest Department)
Under the leadership of Jatin Saxena, India Legends remained unbeaten throughout the tournament, defeating Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Hong Kong and Bangladesh in league matches before clinching the title in the final.
Forest Department official Chandrashekhar Khunte impressed with his elegant batting and exceptional fielding, earning recognition as one of the best fielders of the competition.
Grand Award Ceremony Honors Players and Officials
At the post-match award ceremony, BVCI President Mr. Praveen Tyagi, Mr. Ravinder Tyagi, Mr. Vinod Fadke, Asia Legends Cup Director and title sponsor “Boss Club Thailand” representative Mr. Anmol Verma, along with Tournament CEO Mr. Tarunesh Parihar, felicitated the winners and runners-up.
Umpires, commentators, ground staff and the social media team were also honored for their valuable contribution to the successful conduct of the tournament.