Nagoya, Sept 25:
Defending champions India will begin their Asian Games 2026 men’s cricket campaign with the gold medal in focus, but their preparations have highlighted the need to adapt quickly to unfamiliar conditions in Japan.
India’s final tune-up before the Asian Games turned into a much closer contest than expected when they edged hosts Japan by just two runs in a rain-affected five-over-per-side T20 International at the Sano International Cricket Stadium. India managed only 32 for four after struggling against a slow, turning surface and a disciplined Japanese bowling attack. Captain Shreyas Iyer top-scored with 16 off 12 balls.
Japan, chasing 33, pushed the world champions to the final over and finished on 30 for three. India needed Axar Patel to defend eight runs in the last over, and the left-arm spinner conceded only five as India held on for a narrow victory. The match, originally intended as useful preparation, provided India with a practical experience of the weather, pitch and outfield conditions they could encounter during the Asian Games.
The rain-interrupted game also underlined how different conditions in Japan can be from those India regularly encounter on major cricket tours. Heavy rain delayed the start and left a slow surface and sluggish outfield, making stroke-making difficult. India lost Abhishek Sharma for a golden duck, while Sanju Samson and Ishan Kishan also struggled before Iyer held the innings together.
Iyer had already identified adaptation as an important part of India’s preparations. Before the Japan game, he spoke about the unfamiliar surroundings, different cricketing environment and the need to understand the opposition and conditions quickly. He also noted that playing cricket in Japan presented a different experience from tours of established cricketing nations such as Australia, England and New Zealand.
India will enter the Asian Games at the quarterfinal stage, with their first match scheduled for September 28 at Korogi Sports Park in Nisshin. The opponents will be the team finishing second in Group A, which features Afghanistan, Japan and Nepal. India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka received direct quarterfinal berths based on their ICC rankings.
The Indian team comes into the tournament as the reigning Asian Games champions after winning the men’s T20 gold medal at Hangzhou in 2023. A victory in Japan would give India back-to-back Asian Games titles in men’s cricket. The knockout format, however, leaves little room for a slow start, with India needing to adapt immediately once their quarterfinal begins.
India’s potential route to the final includes a semifinal on October 1, followed by the gold-medal match on October 3 if they qualify. The quarterfinal opponent will only be confirmed after the preliminary group matches are completed, adding another element of uncertainty to India’s preparations.
For Iyer and his team, the narrow escape against Japan could therefore prove useful beyond the result. The contest exposed the impact of rain, a slow wicket and limited scoring conditions, while also giving the players an opportunity to experience the local environment before the main competition. With the knockout stage approaching, India’s ability to adjust their batting, bowling combinations and tactics to the conditions will be an important part of their title defence.