Team India is set to begin its men’s cricket campaign at the Asian Games 2026 in Aichi-Nagoya under the leadership of Shreyas Iyer. The squad faces unfamiliar local conditions in Japan, following a gold-medal victory by the women’s team earlier in the competition.
The men’s national cricket team enters the Asian Games 2026 with high expectations as they prepare for their opening fixtures at Korogi Sports Park in Nisin. Following the gold by the women’s squad, the men’s team aims to replicate that golden outcome under the leadership of Shreyas Iyer, who takes charge for his first appearance at the continental games.
New Conditions and Preparations in Japan
For a squad largely unfamiliar with local pitches, adapting quickly to the environment remains a top priority. Team leadership noted that understanding the precise nature of the wickets and gelling together as a cohesive unit quickly will dictate their early success in the tournament. Preparation has included adjusting to unpredictable weather factors, as demonstrated by a rain-affected five-over T20 match in Sano against Japan that provided a tough contest just before the main draw.
Women’s Squad Sets the Gold Standard
The men’s team inherits a winning legacy from the women’s division. Harmanpreet Kaur led the Indian women’s team to a 147-run victory over Sri Lanka in a one-sided final to secure the gold medal. That performance established an immediate benchmark for the delegation as the multi-sport event gathered momentum in Aichi-Nagoya.
A Busy Wednesday for India Across Multiple Disciplines
Beyond the cricket grounds, the broader Indian contingent faces a packed schedule filled with medal events and elimination rounds. Shooting and weightlifting anchor the country’s primary medal hopes on Day 4 of the competitions. Double Olympic medallist Manu Bhaker highlights the shooting delegation, entering the women’s 10m air pistol qualification alongside Suruchi Inder Singh and Esha Singh. Bhaker successfully advanced through to the individual finals.
Meanwhile, weightlifting brings high expectations as Olympic medallist Mirabai Chanu launches her campaign in the women’s 49kg category, targeting her first Asian Games medal. Teammate Gyaneshwari Yadav is scheduled to follow in the women’s 53kg event later in the session.
Badminton Semifinals and Combat Sports Updates
In team sports, the men’s badminton squad has already secured a medal and will face China in the semifinal match after overcoming Japan in the quarterfinals. The squad features Lakshya Sen, Ayush Shetty, HS Prannoy, Kidambi Srikanth, Tharun Mannepalli, and the doubles combination of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty.
Other disciplines delivered mixed early results across the delegation. In soft tennis, Jay Meena advanced past Sherwin Nuguit in the men’s singles quarterfinals to secure a medal for India. In rowing, Balraj Panwar moved into the finals following the men’s single sculls heats. However, setbacks also occurred on the schedule, with the men’s team regu sepaktakraw side falling to the Philippines, and the esports eFootball duo of Daniel and Chinmay Sahoo bowing out of medal contention after the quarterfinals.
Shooting Ranges and Skeet Squad Medals
The shooting ranges continued to produce hardware for the delegation. The skeet shooting teams picked up bronze medals in both the men’s and women’s team events on Day 3. Anantjeet Singh Naruka advanced through to the individual finals alongside teammates Mairaj Khan and Bhavtegh Singh Gill, while the women’s squad featured Raiza Dhillon, Parinaaz Dhaliwal, and Maheshwari Chauhan.
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