India's cricket campaign at the Asian Games 2026 in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan is gathering momentum, with the women's team already securing a place in the gold-medal match while the men's team prepares to begin its title defence.
As of September 20, 2026, Harmanpreet Kaur's India Women have reached the final after defeating Bangladesh Women by 114 runs in the semi-final. They will face Sri Lanka Women on September 22 for the gold medal.
The Indian men's team, captained by Shreyas Iyer, has received a bye into the knockout stage and will play its first Asian Games match in the quarter-final on September 28.
India Cricket at Asian Games 2026: Current Status
| Team | Captain | Current Status | Next Match |
|---|---|---|---|
| India Women | Harmanpreet Kaur | Qualified for Gold Medal Match | vs Sri Lanka Women - September 22 |
| India Men | Shreyas Iyer | Direct entry to Quarter-final | September 28 vs Group A runner-up |
India Women Storm Into Asian Games 2026 Final
India Women booked their place in the Asian Games 2026 cricket final with a commanding 114-run victory over Bangladesh Women in Nisshin, Japan, on September 20.
India won the toss and elected to bat, with openers Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma immediately putting Bangladesh under pressure.
The pair helped India reach 72/1 in the powerplay, providing the platform for a huge total.
Shafali Verma Smashes Maiden T20I Century
The star of India's semi-final victory was Shafali Verma.
The explosive opener reached her half-century in only 24 balls before completing her maiden T20I century from 49 deliveries.
Shafali finished unbeaten on 100, with her century featuring three fours and nine sixes.
Her innings powered India to 195/4 from 20 overs.
Smriti Mandhana Creates T20I History
The semi-final was also memorable for Smriti Mandhana.
Mandhana smashed 37 from only 19 balls and, during the innings, became the leading run-scorer in women's T20 international cricket.
The milestone added another major achievement to Mandhana's international career during India's push for a second consecutive Asian Games cricket gold medal.
Harmanpreet Kaur Helps India Reach 195
After Mandhana's dismissal, captain Harmanpreet Kaur joined Shafali and ensured India maintained their momentum.
Shafali and Harmanpreet added 94 runs from 55 balls, with the Indian captain contributing 40 from 33 deliveries.
India eventually finished on an imposing 195/4.
Indian Bowlers Dismantle Bangladesh
Bangladesh never seriously threatened India's total.
India reduced them to 39/3 by the end of the powerplay before continuing to take wickets throughout the innings.
Bangladesh were eventually bowled out for 81 in 15.4 overs.
| India Bowler | Figures |
|---|---|
| Deepti Sharma | 3/7 |
| Nandni Sharma | 3/25 |
| Sree Charani | 2/7 |
| Kranti Gaud | 1 wicket |
| Shreyanka Patil | 1 wicket |
India Women vs Sri Lanka Women for Asian Games Gold
India will now face Sri Lanka Women in the gold-medal match on September 22.
Sri Lanka secured their place in the final by defeating Pakistan in the other semi-final. Captain Chamari Athapaththu scored an unbeaten 83 from 50 balls as Sri Lanka successfully chased Pakistan's 177/4.
The final therefore brings together two of Asia's strongest women's cricket teams, with India attempting to defend the gold medal they won at the previous Asian Games.
India Women's Asian Games 2026 Results So Far
| Stage | Match | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Quarter-final | India Women vs Japan Women | India won by 8 wickets |
| Semi-final | India Women vs Bangladesh Women | India won by 114 runs |
| Gold Medal Match | India Women vs Sri Lanka Women | September 22, 2026 |
India Women's Squad for Asian Games 2026
India are led by Harmanpreet Kaur, with Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma, Deepti Sharma and Richa Ghosh among the major names in the squad.
- Harmanpreet Kaur (Captain)
- Smriti Mandhana
- Shafali Verma
- Pratika Rawal
- Deepti Sharma
- Richa Ghosh
- G Kamalini
- Bharti Fulmali
- Sree Charani
- Renuka Singh
- Kranti Gaud
- Arundhati Reddy
- Shreyanka Patil
- Radha Yadav
- Nandni Sharma
What Is India Men's Current Status at Asian Games 2026?
Unlike the women's competition, the men's Asian Games cricket tournament has not yet begun.
The men's event starts on September 24, but India will not need to compete in the preliminary group stage.
India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh have been given direct entry into the quarter-finals based on their seeding.
India will therefore begin their Asian Games title defence on September 28.
Who Will India Men Face in the Quarter-final?
India's quarter-final opponent has not yet been decided.
India will face the runner-up from Group A. Group A consists of Afghanistan, Japan and Nepal.
The three teams will play their preliminary matches between September 24 and September 26, after which India's quarter-final opponent will be confirmed.
Asian Games 2026 Men's Cricket Group A
| Team | Group |
|---|---|
| Afghanistan | Group A |
| Japan | Group A |
| Nepal | Group A |
The team finishing second in this group will meet India in the quarter-final.
India Men's Squad for Asian Games 2026
Shreyas Iyer will captain India, while Tilak Varma is vice-captain.
- Shreyas Iyer (Captain)
- Abhishek Sharma
- Sanju Samson (WK)
- Ishan Kishan (WK)
- Shivam Dube
- Tilak Varma (Vice-Captain)
- Nitish Kumar Reddy
- Axar Patel
- Washington Sundar
- Varun Chakaravarthy
- Ravi Bishnoi
- Jasprit Bumrah
- Arshdeep Singh
- Vaibhav Sooryavanshi
- Yash Thakur
Yash Thakur replaced Harshit Rana after Rana suffered a rectus femoris strain during a match simulation on September 7.
Abhishek Sharma Arrives in Japan in Record-Breaking Form
One of India's biggest players to watch will be Abhishek Sharma.
The explosive opener enters the Asian Games after a spectacular home T20I series against Afghanistan, highlighted by his record-breaking 30-ball century in Delhi.
His powerplay aggression gives India a major attacking option at the top of the order as they prepare for the knockout competition in Japan.
Jasprit Bumrah Leads India's Pace Attack
India have also named Jasprit Bumrah in their Asian Games squad, giving Shreyas Iyer an experienced leader for the pace attack.
Bumrah is joined by Arshdeep Singh and Yash Thakur, while Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Varun Chakaravarthy and Ravi Bishnoi provide multiple spin options.
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi Adds Youth to India's Squad
Teenage batter Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is another player who could attract significant attention during the tournament.
His selection alongside established internationals such as Shreyas Iyer, Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson, Jasprit Bumrah and Axar Patel highlights the combination of youth and experience in India's squad.
India Men's Asian Games 2026 Schedule
| Date | Stage | India's Match |
|---|---|---|
| September 28 | Quarter-final | India vs Group A Runner-up |
| October 1 | Semi-final | If India qualify |
| October 3 | Gold/Bronze Medal Matches | If India qualify |
India Defending Both Asian Games Cricket Gold Medals
India entered Aichi-Nagoya 2026 as the defending champions in both men's and women's cricket.
The women's team defeated Sri Lanka in the previous Asian Games gold-medal match, while the men's team claimed gold after their final against Afghanistan was washed out, with India finishing ahead because of their higher tournament seeding.
India therefore have an opportunity in Japan to defend both cricket titles.
India Cricket at Asian Games 2026: What Happens Next?
The immediate focus is on the women's gold-medal match. India Women face Sri Lanka Women on September 22 with the chance to successfully defend their Asian Games title.
Attention will then move to the men's tournament. Preliminary matches begin on September 24 before Shreyas Iyer's India enter the competition in the September 28 quarter-final.
With Harmanpreet Kaur's team already guaranteed a medal and Shreyas Iyer's side yet to begin its campaign, India's bid to defend both Asian Games cricket gold medals remains alive.
