Harmanpreet Kaur retained as India Captain for Asian Games despite T20 World Cup exit

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has retained Harmanpreet Kaur as captain of the Indian women's cricket team for the 2026 Asian Games in Japan, despite the team's disappointing group-stage exit from the ICC Women's T20 World Cup in England.

The Asian Games will be held in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, from September 19 to October 4, with India entering the tournament as the defending gold medallists after their triumph at the 2023 Hangzhou Games.

Smriti Mandhana will continue as vice-captain of the 15-member squad. Harmanpreet, who led India to the Women's ODI World Cup title last year, has faced criticism following the team's underwhelming T20 World Cup campaign, where defeats to South Africa and Australia ended India's hopes of reaching the knockout stage.

The only change from the World Cup squad is the omission of wicketkeeper-batter Yastika Bhatia, who has been replaced by G Kamalini.

All-rounder Shreyanka Patil, who suffered an ankle injury during the T20 World Cup, has been included in the squad, subject to receiving fitness clearance before the tournament.

The batting unit will feature Harmanpreet, Mandhana, Shafali Verma, Jemimah Rodrigues, and Richa Ghosh, while the bowling attack will be led by Deepti Sharma, Renuka Thakur, Sree Charani, Arundhati Reddy, Radha Yadav, and Nandni Sharma.

Despite the disappointing World Cup campaign, India secured qualification for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics as the highest-ranked Asian team in the tournament.

India Women's Squad for 2026 Asian Games

Harmanpreet Kaur (Captain), Smriti Mandhana (Vice-Captain), Shafali Verma, Jemimah Rodrigues, Deepti Sharma, Richa Ghosh (WK), G Kamalini (WK), Bharti Fulmali, Sree Charani, Renuka Thakur, Kranti Gaud, Arundhati Reddy, Shreyanka Patil, Radha Yadav, Nandni Sharma.