When India's team plays Afghanistan in the Asian Games 2026 quarterfinal here on Monday, September 28, heavy rain, little preparation, and an uncomfortable build-up won't be an excuse, according to captain Shreyas Iyer, who emphasized that a professional squad must be prepared for any situation.
Over the past two days, Nagoya has been pummeled by unrelenting rain, seriously interfering with India's preparations for the knockout stage. India's only recent match practice was a rain-shortened five-over-a-side match at the Sano International Cricket Ground versus Japan, which they won by a mere two runs.
"We cannot cite the reason for the rain because we are a bunch of professionals. Such hurdles keep coming, and mentally we have to be prepared irrespective of what the situation is going to be. We got decent time for knocking and warm-up, and we got some practice. Tomorrow we will try to adapt to the wicket quickly and see how the weather is. That is secondary. The primary thing is to come and play the match,” Iyer told reporters on Sunday.
Asked whether he liked the vibe in Nagoya, Iyer said, "The discipline I liked very much. People follow the instructions. We were in Tokyo, played a match against Japan, and did not get too many practice sessions, so we explored the place a little bit. It was a good experience.”
India had come into the Asian Games 2026 by defeating Afghanistan 3-0 at home in an away series, but Iyer dismissed any suggestions that India will take Afghanistan lightly.
“Not just Afghanistan; even Japan gave us good competition the other day. The wicket here is not set as per a particular standard, so adaptation is very important. It will be challenging and difficult for every team,” Iyer said.
In a tournament where rain has frequently impacted the weather and match rhythm, the ability to adjust could become especially crucial. Despite the conditions, Iyer thinks the team has made every effort to remain ready.
“It’s not just normal rain; it’s a torrential downpour. But we were still able to maximize our warm-up and get the feel of the stadium, breathe fresh air, and also, on the turf, even when it was raining, we did some knocking. The bowlers did some strides in the background. So, we are trying to maximize the best we can,” Iyer said.
The Indian men’s team will also be under the pressure of expectations, as the women’s team already won the gold medal in cricket. But Iyer said that pressure was something the players should embrace rather than carry into the middle.
“The expectation always remains to finish at the top for India, and that is good pressure. When there are expectations, you want to deliver, but at the same time I think we should not think too much about the outcome. The standard we have set as a team, we should transcend that in every match,” Iyer said.
Iyer also emphasized the importance of every chance to compete, with cricket's Olympic comeback bringing still another level of significance to the Asian Games.
“Every match is important because every match gives us practice. The way cricket is growing, competition is also increasing, and it is good for cricket overall. The more opportunities we get to play matches, the better. So, we will have to maintain good fitness and mindset,” Iyer concluded.
(PTI inputs)
