India will compete in the men's cricket competition at the Asian Games 2026 in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, with Shreyas Iyer as captain and Tilak Varma as vice-captain. India received direct entry into the quarter-finals as one of the four seeded teams.
The Indian men's cricket team will compete in the T20 format, with the quarter-final scheduled for September 28, 2026. Check India's updated squad, players, captain, quarter-final schedule and tournament details below.
India Cricket Team for Asian Games 2026
India's updated men's squad for the Asian Games includes 14 players following changes announced by the BCCI on September 16, 2026.
India Asian Games Cricket Squad
| Player | Role |
|---|---|
| Shreyas Iyer | Captain |
| Abhishek Sharma | Batter / All-rounder |
| Sanju Samson | Wicketkeeper |
| Ishan Kishan | Wicketkeeper |
| Shivam Dube | All-rounder |
| Tilak Varma | Vice-Captain / Batter |
| Axar Patel | All-rounder |
| Washington Sundar | All-rounder |
| Ravi Bishnoi | Spinner |
| Jasprit Bumrah | Fast Bowler |
| Arshdeep Singh | Fast Bowler |
| Vaibhav Sooryavanshi | Batter |
| Yash Thakur | Fast Bowler |
| Vipraj Nigam | All-rounder / Leg-spinner |
The BCCI initially selected a 15-player squad in June. Several changes were subsequently made before the Asian Games: Yash Thakur replaced Harshit Rana, while Varun Chakaravarthy was later ruled out with a side strain and replaced by Vipraj Nigam. Nitish Kumar Reddy was also withdrawn from the Asian Games squad to join India's ODI squad for the West Indies series.
Shreyas Iyer — India Captain
Shreyas Iyer will captain India's men's cricket team at the Asian Games 2026.
He was named India's captain for the Asian Games squad when the BCCI announced the team in June. Tilak Varma was named vice-captain.
India's Key Players
Shreyas Iyer
Shreyas Iyer is India's captain for the Asian Games men's cricket competition.
Abhishek Sharma
Abhishek Sharma is included in India's T20 squad and provides a left-handed batting option as well as all-round skills.
Sanju Samson
Sanju Samson is one of India's wicketkeeper options for the Asian Games squad.
Ishan Kishan
Ishan Kishan provides another wicketkeeping option and is also an experienced T20 batter.
Tilak Varma
Tilak Varma is India's vice-captain and one of the team's middle-order batting options.
Axar Patel
Axar Patel adds left-arm spin and all-round ability to India's squad.
Washington Sundar
Washington Sundar provides another spin-bowling all-round option for the Indian team.
Ravi Bishnoi
Ravi Bishnoi is India's specialist leg-spinner in the Asian Games squad.
Jasprit Bumrah
Jasprit Bumrah is included as one of India's senior fast-bowling options.
Arshdeep Singh
Arshdeep Singh gives India a left-arm fast-bowling option in the T20 competition.
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is part of India's Asian Games squad and provides another young batting option.
Yash Thakur
Yash Thakur replaced Harshit Rana in India's Asian Games squad after Rana was ruled out. BCCI confirmed the change on September 10, 2026.
Vipraj Nigam
Vipraj Nigam was called into India's Asian Games squad after Varun Chakaravarthy was ruled out with a side strain. The BCCI announced the replacement on September 16, 2026.
India Men's Cricket Schedule at Asian Games 2026
India is one of four seeded teams in the men's cricket competition and therefore does not play in the preliminary group stage.
The other seeded teams are Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.
The preliminary groups are:
Group A
Afghanistan
Japan
Nepal
Group B
Hong Kong, China
Malaysia
Oman
The top two teams from each group advance to the quarter-finals alongside India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.
India Quarter-Final
India's quarter-final is scheduled for:
Date: September 28, 2026
Match: India vs 2nd place from Group A
Start time: 13:30 JST
India time: 10:00 AM IST
Competition: Men's T20 Cricket
The official Aichi-Nagoya 2026 schedule lists India vs the second-placed team from Group A as quarter-final CKT16 at 13:30 local time on September 28.
The possible Group A opponents are Afghanistan, Japan or Nepal.
Men's Cricket Knockout Schedule
| Round | Date | Time in Japan |
|---|---|---|
| Quarter-finals | September 28–29 | 9:00 / 13:30 JST |
| Semi-finals | October 1 | 9:00 / 13:30 JST |
| Bronze Medal Match | October 3 | 9:00 JST |
| Final | October 3 | 13:30 JST |
All men's cricket matches at the Asian Games are played in the Twenty20 format.
India at the Asian Games
India is the defending men's cricket champion from the previous Asian Games.
At Aichi-Nagoya 2026, India received direct entry into the men's knockout stage together with Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.
The men's competition features 10 teams in total.
Where to Watch India Cricket at Asian Games 2026
Indian viewers can follow the Asian Games cricket competition through the official broadcasters and streaming platforms covering the event in India.
For the latest information about television coverage, online streaming and match availability, see our dedicated guide:
Asian Games 2026 Cricket Live Streaming in India
You can also check the complete:
Asian Games 2026 Cricket Schedule
Asian Games 2026 Cricket Venue
The cricket competition will be played at Kōrogi Athletic Park in Aichi Prefecture, Japan.
The men's tournament begins on September 24, with India entering the competition at the quarter-final stage on September 28.
India Men's Cricket Team FAQ
Who is India's captain for Asian Games 2026 cricket?
Shreyas Iyer is India's captain for the men's cricket competition at the Asian Games 2026.
Who is India's vice-captain?
Tilak Varma is India's vice-captain.
When will India play its first Asian Games cricket match?
India's first men's cricket match is scheduled for September 28, 2026, in the quarter-final stage.
Who will India play in the quarter-final?
India will play the second-placed team from Group A. Group A contains Afghanistan, Japan and Nepal.
Is India directly qualified for the quarter-final?
Yes. India is one of four seeded teams that enter the men's knockout stage directly.
How many teams are in men's Asian Games cricket?
There are 10 men's teams. Six teams play the preliminary group stage, while India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka enter directly at the quarter-final stage.
What format is used?
The men's competition is played in the Twenty20 format.
Who replaced Varun Chakaravarthy?
Vipraj Nigam replaced Varun Chakaravarthy after the latter was ruled out because of a side strain.
Who replaced Harshit Rana?
Yash Thakur replaced Harshit Rana in India's Asian Games squad.
Is Nitish Kumar Reddy still in India's Asian Games squad?
No. BCCI announced on September 16 that Nitish Kumar Reddy was withdrawn from the Asian Games squad and would feature in India's ODI series against the West Indies.
Follow India's Asian Games Cricket Campaign
Check the latest India cricket schedule, squad updates, match results and live-streaming information throughout the Asian Games 2026.
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