Cricket will be one of the major sports at the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan. The competition will be played in the Twenty20 (T20) format, with men's and women's tournaments scheduled during the Games.
For Indian cricket fans, the men's tournament is particularly important because India enters the competition as the defending Asian Games champion and is seeded directly into the men's knockout stage.
The Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Games will take place from September 19 to October 4, 2026, while the women's cricket tournament begins on September 17 and the men's competition begins on September 24.
Asian Games 2026 Cricket
Cricket has been confirmed as part of the Aichi-Nagoya 2026 sports programme and will be played as T20 cricket.
The men's tournament features 10 teams, while eight teams will compete in the women's tournament.
The men's competition includes a preliminary group stage followed by the quarter-finals, semi-finals and medal matches. India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka are seeded directly into the quarter-finals.
All cricket matches will be played at Korogi Athletic Park in Aichi Prefecture.
India Cricket at Asian Games 2026
India enters the men's cricket tournament as one of the four seeded teams.
The other seeded teams are Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.
India will therefore not play in the preliminary group stage. Instead, India's first men's match will be a quarter-final on September 28.
The official competition schedule lists India against the second-placed team from Group A in the quarter-final.
India's Men's Cricket Schedule
| Date | Match | Time |
|---|---|---|
| September 28 | India vs Group A runner-up | 13:30 |
| October 1 | Semi-final, if qualified | 13:30 |
| October 3 | Bronze medal match / Final | 09:00 / 13:30 |
Match times above are Japan local time. The exact quarter-final opponent for India will depend on the preliminary-round results.
Asian Games 2026 Men's Cricket Format
The men's tournament features 10 teams.
Group A
Afghanistan
Japan
Nepal
Group B
Hong Kong, China
Malaysia
Oman
India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka are seeded into the knockout stage.
The top two teams from each preliminary group will qualify for the quarter-finals.
The quarter-finals are scheduled for September 28 and 29, followed by the semi-finals on October 1.
The men's bronze medal match and final will be played on October 3.
India Cricket Team at Asian Games 2026
India will be one of the four seeded teams in the men's tournament.
The Indian team will begin its Asian Games campaign in the quarter-final stage rather than the preliminary group stage.
For Indian fans, the key schedule dates are:
September 28 — Men's quarter-final
October 1 — Men's semi-final, if qualified
October 3 — Men's medal matches
The final India squad and player information should be checked against the latest announcement from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the official Asian Games authorities.
Asian Games 2026 Women's Cricket
The women's cricket competition begins before the men's tournament.
Eight teams are participating:
India
Japan
Bangladesh
China
Sri Lanka
Malaysia
Pakistan
Thailand
India will face Japan in the women's opening knockout round on September 18.
The women's schedule is:
| Date | Match | Time |
|---|---|---|
| September 17 | Bangladesh vs China | 09:00 |
| September 17 | Pakistan vs Thailand | 14:00 |
| September 18 | Sri Lanka vs Malaysia | 09:00 |
| September 18 | India vs Japan | 14:00 |
| September 20 | Women's semi-finals | 09:00 / 14:00 |
| September 22 | Bronze medal match | 09:00 |
| September 22 | Women's final | 14:00 |
All times are Japan local time.
India's women's team will be defending its Asian Games cricket title.
Where to Watch Asian Games 2026 Cricket in India
Sony Pictures Networks India has secured the exclusive official broadcasting and streaming rights for the entire tournament. Indian readers can watch all the men's and women's T20 cricket matches through the following options:- Television Broadcast: You can tune into Sony Sports 1 and Sony Sports 5 for English coverage.
- Regional Language TV: Regional commentary is active on Sony Sports 3 (Hindi) and Sony Sports 4 (Tamil, Telugu, and Kannada).
- Free-to-Air TV: Terrestrial coverage of India's matches will also be available on DD Sports via DD Free Dish.
- Live Streaming: Every match is streamed live on the SonyLIV App & Website, accessible with a premium subscription.
Asian Games 2026 Cricket Venue
The cricket competition will be held at Korogi Athletic Park in Aichi Prefecture, Japan.
The venue is being used for the T20 cricket competition during Aichi-Nagoya 2026.
Fans attending the event should check the official Aichi-Nagoya visitor information for ticket, access and venue guidance.
Asian Games 2026 Cricket Teams
The men's competition includes:
India
Pakistan
Bangladesh
Sri Lanka
Afghanistan
Japan
Nepal
Hong Kong, China
Malaysia
Oman
The women's competition includes:
India
Sri Lanka
Bangladesh
Pakistan
Japan
Malaysia
China
Thailand
India's Asian Games Cricket History
India won the men's cricket gold medal at the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou.
India also won the women's cricket gold medal at Hangzhou 2022, which was held in 2023 after the original event was postponed.
At Aichi-Nagoya 2026, both Indian teams will return with the opportunity to compete for another Asian Games cricket medal.
Asian Games 2026 Cricket Schedule for Indian Fans
The most important dates for Indian cricket supporters are:
September 18: India women's cricket vs Japan
September 28: India men's cricket quarter-final
October 1: Men's semi-final, if India qualifies
October 3: Men's bronze medal match and final
The men's India quarter-final opponent will be determined by the preliminary group results.
Asian Games 2026 Cricket FAQ
When does cricket start at the Asian Games 2026?
The women's cricket tournament begins on September 17, 2026. The men's tournament begins on September 24, 2026.
When will India play cricket at the Asian Games 2026?
India's women's team plays Japan on September 18. India's men's team enters the tournament directly in the quarter-finals on September 28.
Is Asian Games 2026 cricket T20?
Yes. The cricket competition at Aichi-Nagoya 2026 will use the Twenty20 format.
How many men's cricket teams are participating?
Ten men's teams are participating in the Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Games cricket tournament.
Which teams are seeded directly into the men's quarter-finals?
India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka are the four seeded teams.
Where will Asian Games 2026 cricket be played?
The cricket competition will be held at Korogi Athletic Park in Aichi Prefecture, Japan.
Who are India's opponents in the men's group stage?
India does not play in the preliminary group stage. India is seeded directly into the quarter-finals.
When is the Asian Games 2026 men's cricket final?
The men's cricket final is scheduled for October 3, 2026, at 13:30 Japan local time.
Follow Asian Games 2026 Cricket
Bookmark this page for updates to India's cricket schedule, match results, squad information, broadcasters, live coverage and the latest Aichi-Nagoya 2026 cricket news.
The schedule can change, so readers should check the official Asian Games competition information for the latest match times and updates.
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