Asian Games 2026: Full-strength India to face inexperienced Afghanistan in opener
The Indian men's cricket team is set to face an inexperienced Afghanistan squad in their Asian Games opener in Japan. Despite the team's full-strength roster, experts have questioned the decision to prioritize this tournament over preparation for the 2027 ODI World Cup.
Why it matters
The deployment of a full-strength national squad for a regional tournament highlights ongoing debates regarding player workload management and strategic prioritization in Indian cricket.
India will face an inexperienced Afghanistan in their Asian Games opener on Monday (September 28, 2026), with the overwhelming favourites looking to quickly acclimatise to the unfamiliar conditions in Japan.
India would not know what to expect from the surface at the Korogi Sports Park which also staged the women’s competition won by Harmanpreet Kaur and Co .
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Though the women’s event was a high-scoring affair, the men’s games thus far have not seen big totals.
After the one-off game against Japan in Sano on September 22, when India were pushed to the limit by the hosts on a turning track, the Shreyas Iyer-led side has not had much to do.
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