NEW DELHI: The cricket schedule for the 2026 Asian Games in Japan has been announced, with India preparing to defend both its men’s and women’s titles. Shreyas Iyer will captain the Indian men’s team, while Harmanpreet Kaur will continue to lead the women’s side as India targets another double-gold performance.
Cricket at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games 2026 will be played in the T20 format, with the women’s competition scheduled from September 17 to 25 and the men’s tournament from September 26 to October 4.
Shreyas Iyer Named Captain of Men’s Team
The men’s squad will be led by Shreyas Iyer, giving the experienced batter responsibility for India’s Asian Games title defence.
India have opted for a squad combining established international players with emerging talent. With the senior national team’s commitments influencing selection, the Asian Games will also provide an important opportunity for players looking to strengthen their claims for future international assignments.
Iyer’s experience as both an international cricketer and IPL captain could be particularly valuable in a short knockout-style competition where one poor performance can end a medal campaign.
Harmanpreet Kaur Leads Women’s Title Defence
India’s women’s team will once again be captained by Harmanpreet Kaur, with star opener Smriti Mandhana among the key figures expected to drive India’s campaign.
The women’s side will enter the Games as one of the favourites following India’s continued growth as a major force in international women’s cricket.
India won the women’s cricket gold medal at the Hangzhou Asian Games in 2023, defeating Sri Lanka in the final.
India Defending Champions in Both Events
Expectations will be particularly high because India arrive in Japan as the reigning Asian Games champions in both men’s and women’s cricket.
At Hangzhou 2023, India’s women defeated Sri Lanka by 19 runs in the gold-medal match.
The men’s gold-medal match against Afghanistan was abandoned because of rain, but India secured gold on the basis of their higher tournament seeding.
Repeating that double triumph in Japan would reinforce India’s dominance in Asian cricket.
T20 Format Promises Fast-Paced Competition
Both competitions will use the Twenty20 format, which has become the preferred version of cricket for multi-sport events because matches can be completed relatively quickly.
The format also creates greater potential for upsets.
A single explosive batting performance or exceptional bowling spell can transform a T20 match, meaning even highly ranked teams cannot afford to underestimate their opponents.
India are expected to face strong competition from teams including Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Afghanistan across the men’s and women’s events.
Asian Games 2026 Begin September 19
The wider 20th Asian Games will officially take place from September 19 to October 4, 2026, across Aichi Prefecture and Nagoya in Japan.
Women’s cricket begins two days before the formal opening ceremony, while the men’s competition continues through the final day of the Games.
Cricket’s presence at the Asian Games has become increasingly significant as the sport expands its footprint within major multi-sport competitions.
Its inclusion is also particularly relevant ahead of cricket’s return to the Olympic Games at Los Angeles 2028.
India Eyes Another Double Gold
For India, anything less than a medal will carry significant disappointment given the country’s strength and depth.
The bigger target will be repeating the historic double gold achieved at Hangzhou 2023.
Shreyas Iyer’s men’s side will attempt to handle the expectations of defending champions, while Harmanpreet Kaur’s women will look to continue India’s impressive run in Asian cricket.
With the schedule now confirmed, attention will increasingly shift toward India’s final squads, playing combinations, opposition and preparations for Japanese conditions.
The 2026 Asian Games could ultimately provide another major opportunity for Indian cricket to demonstrate its depth—with two gold medals once again firmly in sight.
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