Asian Games 2026 cricket schedule unveiled; Team India’s first match on September 28, India women to begin on September 18

India had won Gold medal in cricket in both men's and women's events in 2022 Asian Games.

On September 28, India's men's cricket team, led by Shreyas Iyer, will start their Asian Games campaign in Japan. They will go straight to the quarterfinals. On September 18, the India women's squad under the leadership of Harmanpreet Kaur will take on Japan.

Due to their seeding, both Indian teams will begin their tournaments in the quarterfinals. After winning the cricket events in the last edition in Hangzhou, they will enter the competition as clear favorites for the gold medal.

All of the matches will be held at Korogi Athletic Park.

Ten teams will compete in the men's competition; India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka will advance directly to the quarterfinals. Pakistan will play in the first quarterfinal, and India has been assigned to the second.

India will play the second-place team from Group A, which is made up of Nepal, Japan, and Afghanistan. The runners-up from Group B, which includes Hong Kong, China, Malaysia, and Oman, will face Pakistan.

To advance to the final eight, the remaining six teams must pass the group stage. Each group's top two teams advance to the quarterfinals.

The winner of the first quarter will play the winner of the third quarter, while the winner of the second quarter will play the winner of the fourth quarter. October 1st is the date of the semifinals.

As per the schedule, India and Pakistan won't play one another in the semifinals. Both teams can only face off in the gold-medal match on October 3 if they advance past the quarterfinals and semi-finals. They might play each other in the bronze-medal play-off on the same day if they lose in the semifinals.

The women's competition will get underway earlier, with India taking on Japan on September 18. The women's final is scheduled for September 22, while the men's summit clash will be played on October 3.

Full cricket fixtures in the Asian Games 2026:

Full cricket fixtures in the Asian Games 2026

Women’s cricket fixtures in Asian Games:

17 September

• 9:00 AM — Bangladesh vs People’s Republic of China 
• 2:00 PM — Pakistan  vs Thailand 

18 September

• 9:00 AM — Sri Lanka vs Malaysia
• 2:00 PM — India vs Japan 

20 September

• 9:00 AM — Semi-final: Winner CKT02 vs Winner CKT03
• 2:00 PM — Semi-final: Winner CKT01 vs Winner CKT04

22 September

• 9:00 AM — Bronze Medal Match
• 2:00 PM — Final

Men’s cricket fixtures in the Asian Games:

24 September

• 9:00 AM — Afghanistan vs Japan
• 2:00 PM — Hong Kong, China vs Malaysia

25 September

• 9:00 AM — Hong Kong, China vs Oman
• 2:00 PM — Afghanistan vs Nepal 

26 September

• 9:00 AM — Japan vs Nepal
• 2:00 PM — Malaysia vs Oman 

28 September

• 9:00 AM — Quarter-final: Pakistan  vs 2nd Place, Group B
• 2:00 PM — Quarter-final: India  vs 2nd Place, Group A

29 September

• 9:00 AM — Quarter-final: Sri Lanka  vs Winner, Group A
• 2:00 PM — Quarter-final: Bangladesh vs Winner, Group B

1 October

• 9:00 AM — Semi-final: Winner CKT15 vs Winner CKT18
• 2:00 PM — Semi-final: Winner CKT16 vs Winner CKT17

3 October

• 9:00 AM — Bronze Medal Match
• 2:00 PM — Final