India will start the men's cricket campaign at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games 2026 when they play Afghanistan in the quarter-final on 28 September 2026. The match will be held at Korogi Sports Park in Nisshin, Japan with the match to be played at 10:00 AM IST.
India entered the knockout stage as one of the four seeded teams, while Afghanistan secured their quarter-final place after they came second in Group A. Afghanistan's position was confirmed after Nepal's match against Japan ended without a result on September 26.
India vs Afghanistan: When and where?
The quarter-final will take place on Monday, September 28, at Korogi Sports Park, Nisshin, Aichi, Japan.
The start time is 1:30 PM local time in Japan, but 10:00 AM IST for the viewers in India. The match is part of the men's T20 cricket competition at the Asian Games.
India enters with a strong squad
India will be led by Shreyas Iyer, and Tilak Varma as his deputy. The squad will be made up of many international stars such as Jasprit Bumrah, Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson, Axar Patel and Arshdeep Singh.
Youngster Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is also in the squad and can attract considerable attention during India's campaign.
India won the men's cricket gold medal at the last Asian Games in Hangzhou and will be looking to defend that title in Aichi-Nagoya.
Afghanistan's Challenge
Afghanistan reached the quarter-finals through the group stage. They began their campaign with a win over hosts Japan and faced Nepal.
Their robust bowling attack would be especially interesting in the quarter-final. Afghanistan tends to have great pace and spin options in T20 cricket and their batters can score quickly when they settle.
India will therefore need to avoid giving Afghanistan early momentum.
Key Players to Watch
Shreyas Iyer
India’s captain will be the one at the top and middle of the batting order. His ability to control the innings and make tactical decisions could be important in a knockout match.
Jasprit Bumrah
Bumrah offers India an experienced option with the ball. His role during the powerplay and at the death could be crucial against Afghanistan’s aggressive batters.
Abhishek Sharma
Abhishek’s attacking batting and left-arm spin provide India with an additional all-round option in the T20 format.
Afghanistan's Top Order
Afghanistan’s batters will be under pressure against India’s bowling attack. Their ability to score quickly during the powerplay could influence the direction of the match.
Where to watch India vs Afghanistan?
In India, the Asian Games cricket competition is being broadcast on Sony Sports Network channels. Live coverage is also available via the broadcaster's digital platforms, in line with the latest regional availability. Tata Play's Asian Games information page lists Sony Sports channels for live television coverage.
