India Asian Games Cricket Squad 2026: Latest Team News, Squad Changes and Players List

India’s current Asian Games Cricket Squad 2026 consists of 14 players, with Shreyas Iyer named captain and Tilak Varma appointed vice-captain. The latest squad update also includes a change in the bowling group after Varun Chakaravarthy was ruled out with a side strain.

Vipraj Nigam has replaced Chakaravarthy in the squad, while Nitish Kumar Reddy has been withdrawn from the Asian Games group and included in India’s plans for the West Indies ODI series. Yash Thakur had earlier replaced Harshit Rana in the squad.

India are seeded for the men’s cricket competition at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games and are scheduled to enter the tournament at the quarterfinal stage on September 28, 2026.

Varun Chakaravarthy has been ruled out of India’s Asian Games campaign because of a side strain. The BCCI confirmed the latest change on September 16, with Vipraj Nigam named as his replacement.

Chakaravarthy had been part of India’s original Asian Games plans. His injury means India will enter the tournament with a revised spin combination.

Vipraj Nigam now joins Ravi Bishnoi and Washington Sundar among India’s spin options for the tournament. The squad also includes experienced fast bowlers Jasprit Bumrah and Arshdeep Singh.

This follows an earlier squad change, with Yash Thakur replacing Harshit Rana after Rana was ruled out because of a rectus femoris strain.

Nitish Kumar Reddy was withdrawn from India’s Asian Games squad as part of the latest team changes announced by the BCCI. He has instead been included in India’s squad for the upcoming ODI series against the West Indies.

His withdrawal reduces the number of all-round options originally available for the Asian Games campaign. India have retained Shivam Dube, Axar Patel and Washington Sundar in the updated squad, giving the team several alternatives across batting and bowling.

The change is part of a broader adjustment to India’s international squads ahead of the Asian Games and the West Indies series. The latest update also confirms Vipraj Nigam as the replacement for Varun Chakaravarthy in the Asian Games group.

With the revised squad now confirmed, Shreyas Iyer will lead India in the Asian Games, with Tilak Varma serving as vice-captain.

Shreyas Iyer will lead India in the men’s cricket competition at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games. The latest squad announcement confirms Iyer as captain, with Tilak Varma serving as his deputy.

Iyer’s appointment gives the squad an experienced top-order batter at the helm. He will be responsible for leading a 14-player group that combines established international players with younger members of India’s white-ball setup.

Tilak Varma’s role as vice-captain adds another leadership option within the squad. The team also includes senior players such as Jasprit Bumrah, Axar Patel and Washington Sundar, alongside younger players including Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and Vipraj Nigam.

India are scheduled to begin their Asian Games campaign in the quarterfinal stage, making the leadership combination of Iyer and Varma an important part of the team’s tournament setup.

Shreyas Iyer

Captain Shreyas Iyer brings experience to India’s batting group and will also carry the responsibility of leading the side through the Asian Games knockout phase.

Tilak Varma

Vice-captain Tilak Varma is another important batting option in the squad. His leadership role also gives India an additional senior figure alongside Iyer.

Jasprit Bumrah

Jasprit Bumrah is the most experienced fast-bowling option in the squad. His presence adds international experience to India’s pace attack.

Sanju Samson and Ishan Kishan

India have selected two wicketkeepers in Sanju Samson and Ishan Kishan. Both provide additional flexibility to the batting combination and squad selection.

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is one of the younger names in the 14-player group and will be part of an India squad that mixes emerging players with established international cricketers.

Vipraj Nigam

Vipraj Nigam enters the squad following Varun Chakaravarthy’s withdrawal. His inclusion adds another spin option to India’s bowling group.

The men’s cricket competition at the 2026 Asian Games is scheduled to take place from September 24 to October 3 in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan. India are among the seeded teams and will not need to play in the group stage.

India’s first match will therefore be a quarterfinal rather than a group-stage fixture. Their opponent will be determined by the results of Group A, which features Afghanistan, Japan and Nepal.

The knockout format means India will need to prepare for a direct quarterfinal contest, with progression to the semifinal depending on the result of that match.

India are scheduled to begin their Asian Games cricket campaign in the quarterfinal on September 28, 2026. Their opponent will be the team that finishes second in Group A.

The Group A results will determine which team advances to face India in the knockout stage. As a result, the exact quarterfinal opponent cannot be confirmed until the group-stage matches are completed.

India’s seeded position gives the team a direct route into the quarterfinals, while the Group A teams must first compete for their positions in the group. The quarterfinal is scheduled for September 28.

Once Group A is decided, India’s quarterfinal fixture will provide the first competitive test for Shreyas Iyer’s 14-player squad at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games.

The latest squad changes have altered India’s original combination for the Asian Games. Varun Chakaravarthy’s absence means Vipraj Nigam has been added to the group, while Nitish Kumar Reddy is no longer part of the tournament squad.

Despite those changes, India still have a balanced group covering batting, wicketkeeping, all-round options, spin and pace. Shreyas Iyer will lead the side, with Tilak Varma as vice-captain.

The updated squad also gives India a combination of established international names and younger players. The presence of Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, Axar Patel and Washington Sundar adds experience, while players such as Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and Vipraj Nigam are part of the younger group.

With India entering directly at the quarterfinal stage on September 28, the final combination will depend on team selection, conditions and the opponent emerging from Group A.

Squad information can change because of injuries, player availability or further selection decisions. This article reflects the latest information available at the time of the September 17, 2026 update.

India will enter the 2026 Asian Games with a revised 14-player squad after several selection changes. Shreyas Iyer has been confirmed as captain, while Tilak Varma will serve as vice-captain.

The latest update saw Varun Chakaravarthy ruled out with a side strain and replaced by Vipraj Nigam. Nitish Kumar Reddy was also withdrawn from the Asian Games group and moved into India’s West Indies ODI plans.

India are scheduled to begin their campaign in the quarterfinal stage on September 28. Their opponent will be the second-placed team from Group A, which contains Afghanistan, Japan and Nepal.

With a combination of experienced international players and emerging talent, the updated India Asian Games Cricket Squad 2026 will now prepare for its opening knockout fixture in Aichi-Nagoya.