Cricket at Asian Games 2026: India Aim to Defend Gold in Men's and Women's T20

Cricket makes its return to the Asian Games at Aichi-Nagoya 2026, and India will be looking to defend the gold medals they won in both men's and women's T20 competitions at Hangzhou 2022. The women's tournament runs from September 17 to 22, while the men's event takes place from September 24 to October 3. India's women, led by Harmanpreet Kaur, begin their title defense against Japan in the quarter-finals on September 18. The men's team, captained by Shreyas Iyer, start their campaign in the quarter-finals on September 28.

India's women's squad features a strong blend of experience and youth. Captain Harmanpreet Kaur leads the side, with Smriti Mandhana as vice-captain. The batting lineup includes explosive opener Shafali Verma, while the bowling attack is spearheaded by Renuka Thakur and Deepti Sharma. Wicketkeepers Richa Ghosh and G. Kamalini provide depth. The team will miss Jemimah Rodrigues, who was ruled out with a hamstring injury and replaced by Pratika Rawal. Shreyanka Patil's participation is subject to fitness clearance after an ankle injury.

The men's squad, led by Shreyas Iyer with Tilak Varma as vice-captain, boasts a mix of seasoned internationals and emerging talents. Jasprit Bumrah and Arshdeep Singh lead the pace attack, while Varun Chakaravarthy and Ravi Bishnoi handle the spin duties. However, Chakaravarthy's participation is in doubt due to a side strain. Harshit Rana was ruled out with a hamstring injury and replaced by Yash Thakur. Wicketkeepers Sanju Samson and Ishan Kishan add firepower to the batting.

India's path to gold will not be easy, with strong challenges expected from Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Afghanistan. The women's team will play their quarter-final, semi-final, and potential medal matches on September 18, 20, and 22, respectively. The men's team will contest their quarter-final on September 28, semi-final on October 1, and medal matches on October 3. All matches will be held at the Aichi-Nagoya venues, with times to be confirmed. Fans can expect thrilling contests as cricket continues to grow in the Asian Games.