India Women’s Squad for Asian Games 2026 Announced, Harmanpreet to Lead

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on June 30 announced the Indian women’s cricket team for the Asian Games 2026, where the team will defend its title in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan later this year. Harmanpreet Kaur will once again captain India in the continental event, while Smriti Mandhana has been made the vice-captain.

The selectors have expressed confidence in the core group of players in the team, with Jemimah Rodrigues, Deepti Sharma, Richa Ghosh, Sree Charani and Arundhati Reddy all retaining their places. The only change in India’s Women’s T20 World Cup squad is in the reserve wicketkeeper position, where G. Kamalini replaces Yastika Bhatia.

Shreyanka Patil, who missed the Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 due to a serious ankle injury, has been included in the Asian Games squad. However, his place will depend on getting fitness clearance from the BCCI medical team. The off-spinner was injured while trying to stop the ball during the Group A match against the Netherlands and had to be carried off the field on a stretcher.

India Set to Defend Asian Games Title

After a nine-year absence, cricket is making a comeback at the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou, having previously made an appearance in Incheon in 2014. This year, the Games will be held in Japan from September 19 to October 4, while the women’s cricket event will be held from September 17 to 22. Eight teams will participate, with the tournament starting in a straight knockout format from the quarter-finals.

The Indian women’s team will enter the tournament as defending champions after winning a gold medal in their maiden appearance at the Asian Games in Hangzhou in 2023. They secured their place in the final by defeating Bangladesh in the semi-finals and then went on to win the title by defeating Sri Lanka.

After finishing as the highest-ranked Asian team in the ongoing Women’s T20 World Cup in England, the team will also enter the tournament with more confidence after securing a team quota for the LA 2028 Olympics.

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Asian Games 2026 Indian Women’s Team: Full squad

India women’s squad for Asian Games 2026:

Harmanpreet Kaur (captain), Shafali Verma, Deepti Sharma, Jemimah Rodrigues, Smriti Mandhana (vice-captain), Bharti Fulmali, Richa Ghosh (wicket-keeper), Gunalan Kamalini (wicket-keeper), Renuka Thakur, Sree Charani, Arundhati Reddy, Kranti Gaud, Radha Yadav, Nandni Sharma, Shreyanka Patil (subject to fitness).

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