Shreyas Iyer under pressure to deliver at Asian Games after defeats in UK; Kaur’s bunch soaring high after Asia Cup win
India Begin Asian Games Cricket Campaign as Women Chase Early Momentum and Men Seek a Reset
Bharatmorningnews.com – Cricket has become a notable part of the Asian Games programme despite its relatively short and uneven history at the event. The sport first appeared in 2010 and remained on the schedule in 2014, before being left out in 2018. It returned for the 2023 edition, staged a year later because of the COVID-19 pandemic, and that tournament marked the first Asian Games appearance for India’s men’s and women’s cricket teams. Both sides won gold medals.
Now, with the 2026 Asian Games underway in Aichi-Nagoya, India again enter the competition with high expectations. The opening ceremony is scheduled for September 19, but cricket has already begun, placing immediate focus on Harmanpreet Kaur’s women’s side. India will face Japan in their quarterfinal on the following day.
Women’s team carry Asia Cup confidence
The women’s cricket competition has a direct and compact knockout structure. Four quarterfinals will decide the semifinalists, with the last-four matches set for September 20. The final and the bronze-medal playoff are scheduled for September 22, meaning teams have little margin for error once the knockout phase begins.
India arrive with substantial confidence after winning the Asia Cup in Dubai. Harmanpreet’s team won each of its five matches in the tournament, overcoming Thailand, Hong Kong, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. The unbeaten run reinforced India’s status as the side to beat in the regional competition.
Several players made decisive contributions during that campaign. Shafali Verma finished as the leading run-scorer with 236 runs at an average of 47.20, while Deepti Sharma claimed 14 wickets, the most in the competition. Smriti Mandhana and Shree Charani also enjoyed productive tournaments, giving India depth in both batting and bowling.
Some of those Asia Cup opponents could return in the latter stages of the Asian Games. Conditions at Korogi Sports Park in Nisshin may create a different challenge, but India’s recent form places them among the strongest contenders for the gold medal. Their combination of experienced players and in-form match-winners makes them difficult to dislodge in a short-format event.
Men wait for quarterfinal opponent
The men’s draw follows a different route. India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh have automatic places in the quarterfinals, while the group stage begins on September 24 to determine their opponents. India will start on September 28, although their first rival will not be known until the group phase is completed.
The men’s semifinals are due on October 1, followed by the final and third-place match on October 3. The format rewards leading teams with a direct passage to the last eight, but it also leaves little room to recover from one poor performance. In T20 cricket, an underdog can quickly turn a match through one strong batting spell, a burst of wickets or an exceptional fielding effort.
Ireland’s victories over India in both T20 internationals in Belfast in June offered a recent reminder of that reality. The defeats were a major surprise given India’s standing in world cricket, and they highlighted the pressure attached to every match in the shortest format.
India have treated the Asian Games as a serious assignment, selecting a full-strength group under new captain Shreyas Iyer. The squad has been named well in advance, and player availability has largely been shaped by fitness. Varun Chakaravarthy was ruled out of the Games because of a side strain.
The side is currently playing Afghanistan in a three-match T20 international series in New Delhi, providing useful preparation before the Asian Games. Match practice matters particularly in a tournament where teams move rapidly from one knockout contest to the next and individual moments can determine medal outcomes.
Iyer faces a significant leadership test
For Iyer, the tournament has added importance. India’s disappointing T20I results in Ireland and England under his leadership have increased scrutiny around his captaincy. A gold medal would not erase those setbacks entirely, but it would provide an important response and give his tenure a defining early achievement.
India remain favourites to secure both cricket gold medals, particularly after the women’s dominant Asia Cup success. Yet the men’s event appears more vulnerable to an upset because of the competitive nature of T20 cricket and the memories of recent defeats abroad.
The objective is nevertheless straightforward. The women have an opportunity to extend their winning momentum immediately against Japan, while the men must convert their preparation into a controlled campaign once their quarterfinal journey begins. For India, two gold medals are the expectation; for the players and captains involved, the Games offer a demanding test of composure, form and leadership.
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