Malaysian batter, one of the leading run-scorers in T20Is, Virandeep Singh expressed his disappointment as his team was knocked out of Asian Games 2026 cricket competition after the quarter-final was abandoned due to incessant rain. Malaysia had beaten Hong Kong, China to advance to the knockout round but the quarter-final was washed out without a ball being bowled. As per the tournament’s rule, the higher seeded/ranked team advances to the next round. As a result, Malaysia’s opponents Bangladesh made it to the semifinals. Virandeep took to X and revealed that he was in the towel when the match was called off. He waited for three years for an opportunity to play against a Test-playing nation but it ended in a disappointing end.
“Was in my towel when our quarter finals vs Bangladesh was called off sad we couldn’t even make it to the ground. Waited 3 years for another opportunity to play against a test nation but not meant to be I guess. associate cricket is tough, lol #AsianGames2026,” he wrote on X.
Not just Malaysia, but other lower-ranked sides suffered the same same in the quarter-final rounds. All four quarter-finals were washed out due to rain, leading to Hong Kong, China, Afghanistan, Nepal and Malaysia's exit. India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh made it to the semifinals without playing a match. The silver-medallists Afghanistan were knocked out as their quarter-final match was against India.
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While the weather forecast for the semifinals clashes on October 1 looks promising, if the semifinals are washed out as well, the same rule will be followed which would result in an India-Pakistan gold medal match. Then, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka will take on each other in bronze medal match.
Where is Virandeep Singh among top T20I run-scorers?
Virandeep is seventh on the list of all-time run-scorers in T20Is. He has 3,515 runs from 118 innings at an average of 37 featuring a century and 24 fifties. He needs 17 more runs to surpass former New Zealand opener Martin Guptill who has 3,531 runs from 118 innings.
27-year-old Virandeep is handy with his left-arm spin as well. He has 130 wickets at an average of 13.83 featuring four four-wicket hauls.