India eye another Asian Games cricket double as women begin title push
Bharatmorning.com – Cricket has only a short history at the Asian Games, but India have already made a powerful impression on the competition. With the 2026 edition under way in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, the country’s women’s and men’s sides arrive as leading contenders for gold once again.
The cricket programme began on September 17, ahead of the opening ceremony scheduled for September 19. India’s women, captained by Harmanpreet Kaur, will start their campaign on September 18 with a quarterfinal against Japan. Their recent form makes them the team to beat, although the compressed T20 format leaves little room for an off day.
A brief but changing Asian Games history
Cricket first appeared at the Asian Games in 2010 and remained part of the programme in 2014. It did not feature in 2018, before returning for the next edition in 2023, which was staged a year later than planned because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
That 2023 tournament marked India’s first participation in Asian Games cricket for both the men’s and women’s teams. The result was emphatic: India collected gold medals in each event. The 2026 competition gives both squads the chance to reinforce that early record in the tournament.
The women’s draw moves quickly. Four quarterfinals will determine the semifinalists, with the last-four matches scheduled for September 20. The final and bronze-medal playoff are set for September 22. India’s opening assignment against Japan will therefore be the first step in a campaign that could be decided within a matter of days.
Harmanpreet’s side carry Asia Cup momentum
India’s women head to the Asian Games after an outstanding Asia Cup triumph in Dubai. Harmanpreet’s side won all five of their matches, overcoming Thailand, Hong Kong, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka during a dominant run through the tournament.
Shafali Verma led the scoring charts with 236 runs at an average of 47.20, while Deepti Sharma finished as the leading wicket-taker with 14 wickets. Their contributions highlighted a squad that found match-winners in different departments. Shree Charani also impressed during the competition, as did Smriti Mandhana.
Several of the teams India defeated in Dubai could reappear later in the Asian Games. That familiarity may help India assess opponents, but it will not remove the need to adapt to the conditions at Korogi Sports Park in Nisshin. In T20 cricket, momentum can turn rapidly, especially in knockout matches where one strong spell or a brisk batting innings can reshape an entire contest.
Even with that caution in mind, the women’s team enter as overwhelming favourites. Their Asia Cup performances were not built around a single player or one close escape; they repeatedly controlled games against a range of opposition. That consistency gives India a strong platform as the medal rounds approach.
Men’s side wait for quarterfinal opponent
The men’s tournament begins later in September and follows a different route. India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh have received direct places in the quarterfinals, while the group phase starts on September 24 to decide their opponents in the last eight.
India will play their first match on September 28, with their opponent yet to be determined. The men’s semifinals are due on October 1, followed by the final and third-place playoff on October 3.
The Indian squad was named well in advance, under new captain Shreyas Iyer, underlining the importance attached to the event. It is a full-strength selection in intent, with absences linked to fitness concerns rather than a lack of priority. Varun Chakaravarthy was ruled out of the Games because of a side strain.
Before travelling for the Asian Games, the team are playing Afghanistan in a three-match T20I series in New Delhi. Those matches provide valuable competitive preparation, allowing the players to settle into combinations and giving Iyer time to shape the side in his new leadership role.
Iyer seeks a statement as captain
For Iyer, the tournament carries added significance. India’s T20I results in Ireland and England under his captaincy were disappointing, and a successful Asian Games campaign would offer a timely response. Winning gold would not erase those defeats, but it would provide a tangible achievement and strengthen his standing as leader of this group.
India should still be viewed as favourites in both events. Yet the format demands vigilance. T20 cricket can narrow the gap between teams, with one upset capable of changing the medal picture. Ireland’s two T20I wins over world champions India in Belfast in June offered a recent reminder of how quickly expectations can be overturned.
That possibility may be greater in the men’s competition, where the knockout entry point means there is no extended group stage for India to recover from an early setback. The women have the confidence of an unbeaten Asia Cup behind them, while the men will be eager to convert preparation and pedigree into a medal-winning run.
India’s objective is straightforward: repeat the double gold achieved in 2023. Harmanpreet Kaur’s team have the form to make that ambition look realistic, while Shreyas Iyer’s men have an opportunity to turn a demanding recent period into the start of a more convincing chapter.
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