Asian Games: India Women target another cricket gold run as Japan await in quarters
Fresh from lifting the Women’s Asia Cup, India now have another piece of silverware in their sights. Harmanpreet Kaur’s side will begin their bid to retain the Asian Games women’s cricket gold when they face hosts Japan in the quarterfinal at Korogi Sports Park in Nisshin on Friday.
India arrive in Japan after beating Sri Lanka by 72 runs in the Asia Cup final to win a record-extending eighth continental title. They will now look to carry that confidence into the Asian Games, where they are the defending champions after winning gold in Hangzhou in 2023.
Japan, meanwhile, will bank on home conditions and their experienced campaigners as they look to challenge one of the strongest teams in the competition.
INDIA CARRY ASIA CUP MOMENTUM
India’s batting will again be central to their hopes, with Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma forming a formidable opening pair. Mandhana comes into the tournament after a record-breaking Asia Cup, where she became the leading run-scorer in women’s international cricket, surpassing Mithali Raj’s tally of 10,868 runs. She also smashed 124 off 64 balls against Hong Kong.
Shafali was equally influential, scoring 236 runs in the Asia Cup and winning the Player of the Tournament award. She also became the youngest and fastest to 3000 Women’s T20I runs. Her aggressive approach gives India an attacking option at the top.
Deepti Sharma will be another key figure, offering experience and control with both bat and ball, while captain Harmanpreet remains a crucial presence in the middle order.
India have also received a boost with Shreyanka Patil declared fit after recovering from an ankle injury. Her return adds another quality spin-bowling all-rounder to the squad.
JAPAN BANK ON EXPERIENCE
Japan’s hopes will rest heavily on captain Mai Yanagida. The 33-year-old all-rounder, who was part of Japan’s 2014 Asian Games squad, brings considerable experience and contributes with both right-hand batting and leg-spin.
Yanagida has played 61 T20 matches for Japan, scoring 777 runs and taking 27 wickets, including a four-wicket haul. Left-arm pacer Ahilya Chandel is another player India will need to watch, having claimed 41 wickets in 48 matches.
Erika Oda is Japan’s leading run-scorer among the players in the current squad, with 802 runs from 51 matches. Kurumi Ota is another experienced campaigner who featured in Japan’s 2014 Asian Games team.
INDIA EYE ANOTHER GOLD RUN
India’s immediate target will be a place in the semifinals, with Bangladesh awaiting the winner after their quarterfinal against China was abandoned due to rain.
The Asia Cup triumph has provided India with plenty of confidence, but the Asian Games present a fresh challenge in a knockout setting. Japan will hope their home advantage can help them produce a surprise, while India will look to begin their title defence with a strong performance.
A victory would take Harmanpreet and her team one step closer to retaining the gold medal they won in Hangzhou.
Where to watch India vs Japan women’s cricket match in Asian Games 2026?
Sony Sports Network has the broadcasting rights for the Asian Games. Live streaming of the India vs Japan women’s cricket match will be available on Sony LIV.
When to watch India vs Japan women’s cricket match in Asian Games 2026?
The India vs Japan clash will begin at 10:30 AM IST and 2 PM local time.
India Women vs Japan Women head-to-head
India and Japan are yet to face each other in Women’s T20Is.
India vs Japan women’s cricket squads for Asian Games 2026
India: Harmanpreet Kaur (Captain), Smriti Mandhana (Vice-Captain), Shafali Verma, Pratika Rawal, Deepti Sharma, Richa Ghosh (WK), G. Kamalini (WK), Bharti Fulmali, Sree Charani, Renuka Thakur, Kranti Gaud, Arundhati Reddy, Shreyanka Patil, Radha Yadav, Nandni Sharma
Japan: Mai Yanagida (captain), Ahilya Chandel, Ayumi Fujikawa, Hinase Goto, Haruna Iwasaki, Shimako Kato, Ayaka Kato-Stafford, Elena Kusuda-Nairn, Akari Nishimura, Erika Oda, Meg Ogawa, Kurumi Ota, Seika Sumi, Erika Toguchi-Quinn, Nonoha Yasumoto.
– Ends
