Harmanpreet Kaur retained as India Captain for Asian Games after World Cup setback

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New Delhi, June 30

India have retained Harmanpreet Kaur as captain for the women’s cricket team at the upcoming Asian Games in Japan despite criticism following the side’s disappointing campaign in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup in England.

The Women’s Selection Committee on Tuesday announced a 15-member squad for the Asian Games, which will be held in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, from September 19 to October 4. India will enter the tournament as defending champions after winning the gold medal at the 2023 Hangzhou Games.

Both men’s and women’s cricket competitions at the Asian Games will be played in the T20 format.

Smriti Mandhana will continue as Harmanpreet’s vice-captain. Harmanpreet, who led India to the Women’s ODI World Cup title last year, faced scrutiny after the team failed to progress beyond the group stage of the T20 World Cup.

Wicketkeeper-batter Yastika Bhatia is the only player from the World Cup squad to miss out, with G Kamalini named as her replacement. All-rounder Shreyanka Patil, who suffered an ankle injury during the World Cup, has been included in the squad, although her availability will depend on fitness clearance.

The squad includes a strong batting unit featuring Harmanpreet Kaur, Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma, Jemimah Rodrigues and Richa Ghosh. The bowling attack will be led by Deepti Sharma, Renuka Singh, Sree Charani, Arundhati Reddy and Nandni Sharma.

India had an inconsistent World Cup campaign, registering wins against Pakistan, Bangladesh and the Netherlands but suffering defeats against South Africa and Australia, which ended their hopes of reaching the next stage.

Despite the early exit, India secured qualification for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics as the highest-placed Asian team.

India’s squad for the 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 and Nandni Sharma.