Asian Games 2026 Cricket Schedule: Cricket has returned to the Asian Games once again. The 2026 Asian Games are being held in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan. The men’s cricket tournament will take place from September 24 to October 3, 2026.
India is the defending champion of this tournament. The team won the gold medal at the 2023 Asian Games. This time, India will not play in the group stage. India will enter directly into the quarter-finals.
Ten teams are participating in the men’s tournament. Afghanistan, Japan, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Oman, and Nepal will start from the group stage. India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka have secured direct entry into the quarter-finals.
Table of Contents
Asian Games 2026 Cricket
The cricket tournament will be played in the T20 format. Matches will be held at Kōrogi Sports Park in Japan. The men’s group stage will run from September 24 to 26. The quarter-finals will take place on September 28 and 29.
The semi-finals will be held on October 1. The gold and bronze medal matches will take place on October 3. India’s quarter-final match is scheduled for September 28. The match will start at 10:00 AM IST.
You will find the complete schedule for the Asian Games 2026 cricket tournament on this page. Details regarding the Indian squad and the points table will also be updated here. Information on India’s potential matches and the scenario for an India-Pakistan clash will also be available here.
The women’s cricket tournament has already concluded. The Indian women’s team won the gold medal. Now, all eyes are on the men’s tournament. India will step out to defend its gold medal.
Asian Games 2026 Cricket: Key Details
The men’s cricket tournament at the 2026 Asian Games will be played in the T20 format.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Tournament | Asian Games 2026 |
| Men’s Dates | 24 September – 3 October 2026 |
| Format | T20 |
| Men’s Teams | 10 |
| Main Venue | Kōrogi Sports Park |
| Host Country | Japan |
| Defending Champion | India |
| Men’s Quarter-finals | 28–29 September |
| Semi-finals | 1 October |
| Gold Medal Final | 3 October |
For Latest Updates & Dream11 Teams
India is the defending champion of the tournament. The team won the gold medal at the 2023 Asian Games. Along with India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka have also received direct entry into the quarter-finals. Afghanistan, Japan, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Oman, and Nepal will begin the tournament from the group stage.
The men’s group stage will take place from 24 to 26 September. The quarter-finals will follow. India’s quarter-final match is scheduled for 28 September. The match will start at 10:00 AM IST. The tournament’s gold medal match will be played on 3 October.
Where to Watch Asian Games 2026 Cricket
Cricket matches for the 2026 Asian Games can be watched on the Sony Sports Network in India. Fans can also stream the matches live on SonyLIV, allowing them to follow the action on both TV and mobile. In addition to India’s matches, key games of the tournament will also be available on these platforms.
- TV Broadcast 2026: Sony Sports 1, Sony Sports 2, Sony Sports 3 (Hindi), Sony Sports 4 (Tamil, Telugu, Kannada), Sony Sports 5
- Live Streaming: SonyLIV
Where to Watch Asian Games 2026 Cricket Outside India
| Country / Region | TV Channels & Networks | Live Streaming / Digital | Status / Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| India | Sony Sports 1, Sony Sports 2, Sony Sports 3 (Hindi), Sony Sports 4 (Tamil, Telugu, Kannada), Sony Sports 5 | SonyLIV | Confirmed |
| China | CCTV5 | Not officially specified | Free-to-air (CCTV5) |
| South Korea | KBS, MBC, SBS | Not officially specified | Free-to-air |
| Malaysia | RTM | Not officially specified | Free-to-air |
| Singapore | MeWatch | MeWatch app/online | Free-to-air |
| Vietnam | VTV | VTV digital platforms | Free-to-air |
| Japan | TBS (Tokyo Broadcasting System) | Domestic streaming | Host broadcaster |
Asian Games 2026 Men’s Cricket Schedule and Qualification Format
The men’s cricket tournament at the 2026 Asian Games will begin on September 24. A total of 10 teams will participate in the tournament. Six teams will start their campaign from the group stage, while India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka have received direct entry into the quarter-finals.
Men’s Cricket Schedule and Qualification Format
| Stage | Date |
|---|---|
| Group Stage | 24–26 September 2026 |
| Quarter-finals | 28–29 September 2026 |
| Semi-finals | 1 October 2026 |
| Bronze Medal Match | 3 October 2026 |
| Gold Medal Final | 3 October 2026 |
Group Stage
Afghanistan, Japan, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Oman, and Nepal will compete in the group stage. These teams will vie for a spot in the quarter-finals. The group stage matches will take place from September 24 to 26.
Quarter-finals
The quarter-finals will be held on September 28 and 29. India’s quarter-final match is scheduled for September 28. The match will start at 10:00 AM IST. India will face a runner-up from the group stage.
Semi-finals
The semi-final matches will take place on October 1. The teams that win their quarter-finals will advance in the race for medals. This stage will pave the way to the Gold Medal Final.
Medal Matches
The Bronze Medal Match and the Gold Medal Final will be held on October 3. The winner of the Gold Medal Final will be crowned the Asian Games cricket champion. India is the defending champion of this tournament. The team won the gold medal in 2023.
Asian Games 2026 India Men’s Cricket Squad
India has announced its squad for the men’s cricket tournament at the 2026 Asian Games. Shreyas Iyer is the team’s captain, and Tilak Varma has been named vice-captain. The squad includes batters as well as all-rounders and strong bowling options.
India Men’s Squad Asian Games 2026
| Player | Role |
|---|---|
| Shreyas Iyer | Captain, Batter |
| Ishan Kishan | Wicketkeeper Batter |
| Sanju Samson | Wicketkeeper Batter |
| Vaibhav Sooryavanshi | Batter |
| Tilak Varma | Vice-Captain, Allrounder |
| Abhishek Sharma | Allrounder |
| Shivam Dube | Allrounder |
| Axar Patel | Allrounder |
| Washington Sundar | Allrounder |
| Nitish Kumar Reddy | Withdrawn |
| Arshdeep Singh | Bowler |
| Jasprit Bumrah | Bowler |
| Vipraj Nigam | Bowler |
| Ravi Bishnoi | Bowler |
| Yash Thakur | Bowler |
| Varun Chakravarthy | Withdrawn |
India’s Key Players
- Shreyas Iyer will handle the team’s captaincy; he bats in the top order.
- Tilak Varma is the team’s vice-captain; he can bowl off-spin in addition to batting.
- Abhishek Sharma is a batting all-rounder; he bowls left-arm spin alongside batting left-handed.
- Jasprit Bumrah is one of India’s primary fast-bowling options; Arshdeep Singh is also part of the pace attack alongside him.
- Axar Patel and Washington Sundar can both bat and bowl spin.
Withdrawn Players
Nitish Kumar Reddy and Varun Chakravarthy have been named in the squad. ‘Withdrawn’ is listed next to both players’ names. India’s final playing XI will be confirmed before the match. India is the defending champion of this tournament. The team won the gold medal at the 2023 Asian Games.
India vs Pakistan: Can They Meet in Asian Games 2026?
Both India and Pakistan are participating in the 2026 Asian Games tournament. However, the two teams will not face each other in the group stage.
Both India and Pakistan have received direct entry into the quarter-finals. Consequently, a match between the two teams will not take place in the early stages. If India and Pakistan win their respective quarter-final matches, both could reach the semi-finals.
They could only meet in the final if they are placed on opposite sides of the semi-final draw. In such a scenario, an India vs Pakistan Gold Medal Final could take place. If both teams lose their semi-final matches, they could clash in the Bronze Medal Match.
This means there are two possible scenarios for a match between India and Pakistan:
- Gold Medal Final
- Bronze Medal Match
The Gold Medal Final is scheduled for October 3, 2026. The Bronze Medal Match will also be played on the same day. India is the defending champion from the 2023 Asian Games. Pakistan will also enter the tournament as a strong contender in the race for a medal. Now, fans will have their eyes on the quarter-finals. The exact scenario regarding an India vs Pakistan clash will become clear only after that stage.
Asian Games 2026 Cricket History
Cricket was played at the Asian Games for the first time in Guangzhou in 2010. It was also included in the Incheon 2014 Games. Subsequently, cricket returned at the Hangzhou 2023 Asian Games. India won the gold medal in men’s cricket at Hangzhou 2023. India will defend its title at the 2026 Asian Games.
Asian Games 2026 Cricket FAQs
Q1. Will cricket at the 2026 Asian Games be T20 or ODI?
Cricket at the 2026 Asian Games will be played in the T20 format.
Q2. Why aren’t India and Pakistan in the same group?
India and Pakistan have received direct entry into the quarter-finals. That is why neither team is in the group stage. The two teams could face each other in the knockout stage.
Q3. Who won the cricket gold at the last Asian Games?
India won the gold medal in men’s cricket at the Hangzhou 2023 Asian Games. India won the gold medal by defeating Afghanistan in the final.
Q4. Is Asian Games cricket ICC-recognized?
Asian Games cricket is played in the T20 format. ICC recognition and match status may depend on the rules governing the tournament and the participating teams. To confirm the official match status, it is necessary to check the latest ICC listings for the tournament.
Q5. Where can I watch 2026 Asian Games cricket outside India?
Broadcast rights outside India may vary by country. Country-specific information will be updated once details regarding the official broadcaster become available.
2 Comments
Pingback: Pakistan reach Asian Games cricket final after Bangladesh win | 4xSports
Pingback: India vs Pakistan set for Asian Games men’s cricket gold final after contrasting semifinals - 4xsports