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By Chetanya Sarraf
Sep 26, 2026, 12:57 PM
India Cricket Team Reaches Nagoya
India’s men’s cricket team has arrived in Nagoya, Japan, ahead of its much-anticipated Asian Games 2026 quarter-final. The Shreyas Iyer-led side reached Nagoya on September 26 as preparations began for India’s first match in the men’s cricket competition at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games.
The Indian team has entered the tournament directly at the quarter-final stage because of its position in the continental T20I rankings. After the preliminary matches helped determine the knockout line-up, India is now set to face Afghanistan in the quarter-final on September 28.
India enters the competition as the defending men’s cricket champion. The team will be looking to continue the country’s strong performance in cricket at the Games after the Indian women’s team secured the gold medal earlier in the tournament.
India Arrives in Nagoya
The arrival in Nagoya marks the beginning of the final preparations for India’s men’s cricket campaign. Players and support staff have travelled to the city ahead of their quarter-final, with the team now expected to focus on training, conditions and the challenge posed by Afghanistan.
The Indian side has already played a T20 match against Japan during its stay in the country. India won that rain-affected five-over match by two runs, giving the players some competitive exposure before the Asian Games knockout stage.
That match was not part of the Asian Games competition, but it provided the Indian team with an opportunity to get used to local conditions. Rain affected the contest significantly, with India making 32 for four before Japan finished on 30 for three in its five overs.
The men’s Asian Games cricket tournament itself began on September 24. India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh received direct entry into the quarter-finals, while the remaining teams competed through the preliminary stage to determine the other knockout places.
With India’s quarter-final now confirmed, the team can concentrate fully on the knockout stage.
Shreyas Iyer Leads the Side
India’s men’s cricket side will be led by Shreyas Iyer at the Asian Games. The squad contains a combination of experienced international players and younger cricketers, giving the team several options across batting, bowling and all-round departments.
The squad includes names such as Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson, Ishan Kishan, Shivam Dube, Tilak Varma, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Varun Chakaravarthy, Ravi Bishnoi, Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi.
The presence of experienced players such as Bumrah, Arshdeep, Axar and Washington gives India considerable international experience going into the knockout stage. At the same time, the squad includes young players who can add energy and flexibility to the playing XI.
VVS Laxman is serving as head coach of the men’s team for the Asian Games campaign. Laxman, who is associated with the BCCI Centre of Excellence, was appointed to oversee India’s men’s side for the tournament.
The coaching staff will now have a short window to prepare the players for Afghanistan and assess the conditions at the venue.
India vs Afghanistan Quarter-Final
India will face Afghanistan in the quarter-final on September 28. The match is part of the men’s T20 cricket knockout stage, where every game has a direct impact on the medal race.
Afghanistan earned its place in the quarter-final after finishing second in Group A. Nepal topped the group, while Afghanistan moved through to the knockout stage following the preliminary matches. Japan’s match against Nepal was subsequently affected by rain, which helped settle the final qualification picture.
The Afghanistan challenge gives India an opponent with experience in T20 cricket and a bowling attack capable of creating problems in the shorter format.
For India, the main task will be to adapt quickly to the conditions and build a strong start. Because the team begins its Asian Games campaign in the quarter-final, there is little room for mistakes. A victory would take India into the semi-finals, while a defeat would end its gold-medal campaign.
The men’s tournament is set to move into the semi-final stage on October 1, with the bronze-medal and gold-medal matches scheduled for October 3.
Gold Medal Defence Begins
India’s men’s team is entering the tournament with the experience of being the defending Asian Games champion. Cricket returned to the Asian Games programme in Hangzhou, where India won the men’s gold medal in 2023.
The current tournament therefore carries additional importance for the Indian team. The squad has the opportunity to defend the title while also contributing another medal to India’s overall campaign in Nagoya.
The women’s cricket team has already completed its gold-medal campaign. India defeated Sri Lanka by 147 runs in the women’s T20 final on September 22, securing India’s first gold medal of the 2026 Asian Games.
That result has added attention to the men’s tournament, with Indian cricket fans now waiting to see whether the men’s team can also reach the final stages.
India’s arrival in Nagoya comes as the wider Asian Games competition continues across multiple sports. The 2026 Games feature athletes from 45 nations and regions competing across 43 sports.
For the Indian cricket team, however, the immediate focus is much narrower. The players now have to prepare for one important quarter-final against Afghanistan.
The team management will also need to decide on the playing combination based on the pitch and weather conditions. India’s squad provides several batting and bowling options, meaning the final XI can be adjusted according to the conditions in Nagoya.
The arrival also gives players time to recover from their travel and settle into the tournament environment before the quarter-final.
With Shreyas Iyer at the helm and several experienced international players in the squad, India will now turn its attention towards the knockout stage.
The India vs Afghanistan quarter-final on September 28 will officially begin India’s men’s cricket campaign at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games. The result will determine whether the defending champions continue their journey towards another Asian Games gold medal.
For now, the Indian team has reached Nagoya, the preparations are underway, and the focus has shifted firmly towards the quarter-final.
The players will also have limited time to assess conditions, finalise their plans and build momentum before the crucial knockout match begins.
Source: ANI
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