The men’s T20 cricket tournament at the 2026 Asian Games is in the limelight in India because for the first time, the BCCI has sent a full-strength team featuring big names such as Jasprit Bumrah, Sanju Samson, Ishan Kishan, Axar Patel, Arshdeep Singh, and rising stars like 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi.
Previously, a backup team used to be sent by BCCI in the Asian Games, but this time a full-fledged team of international star players who play ODI, Test, and T20 will compete in T20 cricket at the Asian Games at the Korogi Sports Park in Aichi Prefecture, Japan, with the aim of winning the gold medal.
This competition holds international T20I status and serves as part of the preparations for the LA 2028 Olympics, where cricket is making a comeback. It is a major platform for young players like Vaibhav Suryavanshi.
India’s Captaincy and Squad for Men’s T20 Asian Games 2026
Shreyas Iyer is currently the T20I captain of Team India, with Tilak Varma serving as the vice-captain. The 14-15 player squad features an excellent blend of experienced, young, and new talent.
- Batters: Shreyas Iyer (Captain), Vaibhav Suryavanshi, Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma (Vice-captain)
- Wicketkeepers cum Batsmen: Sanju Samson, Ishan Kishan
- All-rounders: Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar.
- Bowlers: Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, Ravi Bishnoi, Vipraj Nigam, Yash Thakur.
Key Changes
Nitish Kumar Reddy (due to the West Indies ODI series) and Varun Chakravarthy (due to injury) withdrew from the tournament. They were replaced by Vipraj Nigam and Yash Thakur. Apart from that, Harshit Rana was part of the Asian Games 2026 Men’s T20I squad but was ruled out due to a rectus femoris strain, as confirmed by BCCI & ICC officials.
Tournament Format for T20I Asian Games 2026
10 teams are participating in Asian Games 2026. First, there will be Group Stage matches, and then Knockout Stage matches. In the knockout stage, there will be Quarter-Finals, Semi-Finals, 3rd Place Play-off, and Final. Here’s the list of all 10 teams that are participating in the Asian Games 2026 in Japan.
- Afghanistan (Group A)
- Japan (Group A)
- Nepal (Group A)
- Hong Kong (Group B)
- Malaysia (Group B)
- Oman (Group B)
- India
- Pakistan
- Sri Lanka
- Bangladesh
India’s Schedule
India will begin its campaign directly in the knockout stage. On September 28, India will face the runner-up of Group A in the quarter-final—likely either Nepal or Afghanistan. The semi-final is scheduled for October 1, and the gold medal match will take place on October 3. India’s 3-match schedule for Men’s T20I is as follows:
- 1st Match: India vs Nepal/Afghanistan on 28 September 2026 at 10:00 AM IST
- 2nd Match: India vs TBA (Semi-Final Match) on 1 October 2026
- 3rd Match: India vs TBA (Playoff/Final) on 3 October 2026
Where and when to watch the men’s T20I matches at the 2026 Asian Games?
Because the star players from various countries are participating in this event, cricket lovers from all over the world are eagerly waiting to watch the men’s T20 cricket tournament. In India, you can catch the live streaming of all these games on Sony Sports at 5:30 AM IST or 10:00 AM IST.
- Mobile and Smart TV can stream all matches via the SonyLIV app in HD/1080p.
- Cable TV users can watch the full coverage on Sony Sports TV Network in Standard or High Definition.
Apart from that, the live coverage is available on the leading cricket platforms and broadcasters of the participating nations; you can check out the highlights of each match later on YouTube for free in high quality.
Squads and fixtures are subject to change, so please keep an eye out for official updates from the BCCI and ACC and don’t forget to share on social media.
