The Indian men’s cricket team has qualified for the semi-finals of the 2026 Asian Games without a single ball being bowled in their quarter-final clash against Afghanistan.
Persistent rain and a waterlogged outfield at the Aichi Prefectural Korogi Sports Park in Nisshin, Japan, forced match officials to call off the fixture on September 28, 2026. Under tournament rules, India progressed to the next round by virtue of having a higher T20I seeding.
Key Match Details & Outcome
- Fixture: India vs Afghanistan (2nd Quarter-Final, Men's T20)
- Venue: Aichi Prefectural Korogi Sports Park, Nisshin, Japan
- Result: Abandoned due to rain and wet outfield
- Outcome: India qualified for the semi-finals based on higher seeding ranking.
Squad Overview
- Team India: Led by captain Shreyas Iyer, the squad features key players including Jasprit Bumrah, Sanju Samson, and Abhishek Sharma.
- Team Afghanistan: Captained by Darwish Rasooli, Afghanistan fielded a younger, developmental squad with several senior stars rested for the tournament.
What’s Next?
With the quarter-final abandoned, India moves one step closer to defending their medal. They are scheduled to play their semi-final match on October 1, 2026, as they aim for a spot in the gold medal final.
