India Begins Asian Games Cricket Campaign as Defending Champions

India’s cricket teams are entering the 2026 Asian Games in Japan, with both the men’s and women’s sides set to defend the gold medals they won at the previous edition in 2023. Cricket at the Aichi-Nagoya Games begins on September 17, with the tournament being played in the T20 format.

The Indian men’s team will be led by Shreyas Iyer, while Harmanpreet Kaur will captain the women’s side. The tournament brings together several major cricketing nations, including India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Afghanistan.

The Asian Games are also an important occasion for cricket in Japan, where the sport is seeking to expand its domestic following. Japan will host its first-ever T20 match against a full ICC member when India face Japan on September 22 in Sano.

With both Indian teams returning as defending champions, the cricket competition is expected to attract significant attention during the Games.