The BCCI Asian Games Squad for the 2026 Asian Games has been officially announced, with the Indian women’s cricket team set to defend its gold medal in Japan later this year. The selection committee has largely retained the core group from the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup, making only two notable changes to the 15-member squad.
Led by captain Harmanpreet Kaur, India will enter the continental event as the defending champions after winning the gold medal at the previous edition. The tournament, scheduled to be held in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, will be played in the T20 format, making it another important international assignment for the team.
BCCI Asian Games Squad Retains Faith in Experienced Core
The All India Women’s Selection Committee finalized the squad following its latest selection meeting. Despite India’s disappointing campaign at the recent ICC Women’s T20 World Cup, where the team failed to qualify for the knockout stage, the selectors have continued to back the majority of the experienced players.
The decision suggests that the board still believes the current leadership group has the ability to deliver success on the international stage. Harmanpreet Kaur will continue to captain the side, while Smriti Mandhana has been named vice-captain.
With several senior players retaining their places, the focus now shifts to India’s preparations as the team looks to repeat its success from the previous Asian Games.
Two Important Changes in the Women’s Squad
Compared to the T20 World Cup squad, the BCCI Asian Games Squad features only two major changes.
Wicketkeeper-batter Yastika Bhatia has been left out, while Prema Rawat also misses selection. In their place, young wicketkeeper G. Kamalini has earned an opportunity to represent India at the Asian Games. Her inclusion provides additional depth behind the stumps and rewards her recent performances.
The other significant change is the return of all-rounder Shreyanka Patil. She had missed the T20 World Cup because of injury but has now been recalled to the squad. However, her participation remains subject to medical clearance. The selection committee has marked her name with an asterisk, indicating that she must successfully complete her fitness assessment at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) before the tournament begins.
India Aim to Defend Their Asian Games Gold
India enter the 2026 Asian Games with high expectations after winning the gold medal at the previous edition in China. The women’s team has consistently been one of the strongest sides in Asian cricket and will once again be among the favourites for the title.
While the recent T20 World Cup campaign exposed areas that require improvement, the selectors have opted for continuity rather than making sweeping changes. The management will be hoping that the experienced squad can quickly regain momentum and produce better performances in Japan.
The Asian Games cricket competition also offers India another opportunity to strengthen its dominance in women’s cricket across the continent.
Harmanpreet Kaur Continues as Captain
Questions were raised about Harmanpreet Kaur’s captaincy after India’s defeats against top opposition during the T20 World Cup. However, the BCCI has shown confidence in her leadership by retaining her as captain for the Asian Games.
Her experience in high-pressure tournaments is expected to play a crucial role as India attempts to defend its continental crown. Alongside senior players like Smriti Mandhana, Jemimah Rodrigues, Deepti Sharma and Renuka Singh Thakur, the team combines experience with promising young talent.
The complete match schedule for the cricket competition is expected to be announced closer to the start of the Games.
India Women’s Squad for Asian Games 2026
- Harmanpreet Kaur (Captain)
- Smriti Mandhana (Vice-Captain)
- Shafali Verma
- Jemimah Rodrigues
- Deepti Sharma
- Richa Ghosh (Wicketkeeper)
- G. Kamalini (Wicketkeeper)
- Bharti Fulmali
- Shri Charani
- Renuka Singh Thakur
- Kranti Goud
- Arundhati Reddy
- Shreyanka Patil* (Subject to fitness clearance)
- Radha Yadav
- Nandini Sharma
India Men’s Squad for Asian Games 2026
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India Women's squad announced for the 2026 #AsianGames in September.
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- Shreyas Iyer (Captain)
- Abhishek Sharma
- Sanju Samson (Wicketkeeper)
- Ishan Kishan (Wicketkeeper)
- Shivam Dube
- Tilak Varma (Vice-Captain)
- Nitish Kumar Reddy
- Axar Patel
- Washington Sundar
- Varun Chakaravarthy
- Ravi Bishnoi
- Jasprit Bumrah
- Harshit Rana
- Arshdeep Singh
- Vaibhav Suryavanshi
With a balanced squad featuring experienced internationals and emerging talents, India will travel to Japan determined to retain the Asian Games gold medal and reinforce its position as one of Asia’s leading women’s cricket teams.
