Asian Games 2026 Cricket: India Set to Defend Double Gold in Japan

Cricket will return to the Asian Games in Japan, with matches set to be played in the T20 format. India’s men’s and women’s teams, which won gold medals at the 2023 Asian Games in China, will enter the competition as defending champions and have secured direct qualification for the quarterfinals. In the men’s competition, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka are the top-seeded teams with direct entry into the last eight. Afghanistan, Japan and Nepal have been placed in Group A, while Hong Kong China, Malaysia and Oman are in Group B. The top two teams from each group will advance to the quarterfinals.

India’s men’s team is scheduled to play its quarterfinal on September 28, with the semifinals slated for October 1 and the bronze and gold medal matches scheduled for October 3. The women’s competition will feature eight teams in a direct knockout format, with matches scheduled from September 17 to 22. India will face Japan in the quarterfinals, while China will take on Bangladesh, Malaysia will face Sri Lanka and Thailand will meet Pakistan. Cricket will be part of the Asian Games programme for the fourth time, having previously featured in 2010, 2014 and 2023.