Picking their strongest lineup, the BCCI revealed 15 players for the women’s event at next year’s Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya. Leading once again will be Harmanpreet Kaur, known for steady command under pressure. Standing beside her, Smriti Mandhana takes on deputy duties after consistent performances up front. Set for September in Japan, the tournament sees India return as title holders. Gold was their last time around; now they aim to keep it. With a balance between youth and experience, selections reflect current form more than past fame.
India’s squad for the 2026 Asian Games includes Harmanpreet Kaur (captain), Smriti Mandhana (vice-captain), Shafali Verma, Jemimah Rodrigues, Deepti Sharma, Richa Ghosh (wicketkeeper), G. Kamalini (wicketkeeper), Bharti Fulmali, Sree Charani, Renuka Thakur, Kranti Gaud, Arundhati Reddy, Shreyanka Patil*, Radha Yadav and Nandni Sharma. Shreyanka Patil has been included, subject to fitness, after missing the Women’s T20 World Cup with a twisted ankle.
BCCI retains faith in Harmanpreet Kaur after World Cup disappointment
One day after India made it into the Olympic women’s cricket team, the team lineup dropped. Backing Harmanpreet Kaur remains firm even though the recent World Cup run in England fell flat. The pick shows trust hasn’t wavered, not even after tough losses abroad.
Doubts crept in about Harmanpreet leading the team once more. After losses to South Africa and Australia, India’s journey ended before it really began. That stumble felt heavy – more so because triumph had tasted so close just twelve months prior. Victory at home, their first ODI World Cup, now seemed like a distant echo.
Out of step through much of the T20 World Cup, India’s campaign unraveled due to shaky decisions and misplays that piled up at the worst moments. Now, eyes shift eastward – the Asian Games loom, set between September 19 and October 4 in Aichi-Nagoya. There, under different skies, Harmanpreet steps forward again, leading a group aiming to reclaim a steady footing while holding onto regional dominance.
Also read: Amol Muzumdar breaks silence on Harmanpreet Kaur’s captaincy after World Cup exit
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