JPNW vs INDW Asian Games 2026: The Indian women's cricket team has started its campaign in the Asian Games 2026. The team captained by Harmanpreet Kaur is facing host Japan in the fourth quarter-final match. This match is being played at Korogi Sports Park in Nisshin, Japan. The Indian captain has won the toss and decided to bowl first. In such a situation, defending champion Team India is eyeing to restrict host Japan to a low score and make it to the semi-finals by chasing the target.
The Indian women's cricket team is performing brilliantly in bowling against Japan in the women's cricket quarter-finals of the Asian Games 2026. Under the captaincy of Harmanpreet Kaur, Team India has kept Japan's batting under constant pressure. Till the time of writing the news, Japan has scored 54 runs after losing 7 wickets in 17.5 overs.
Excellent bowling by Shri Charani and Shafali.
On behalf of India, Shri Charani bowled brilliantly and took 2 wickets for 9 runs in 3 overs. At the same time, Shafali Verma has sent 2 batsmen to the pavilion after giving 13 runs in 4 overs. Both the bowlers did not give the Japanese batsmen a chance to score runs freely.
Deepti Sharma has also taken one wicket. He has spent 13 runs in 3.5 overs. Nandani Sharma and Kranti Gaur also kept the run rate under control in the initial bowling.
Japanese batsmen were seen struggling
For Japan, Ayaka Kato-Stafford scored 25 runs in 47 balls. She is the highest run scorer for the team. Haruna Iwasaki scored 10 runs on 22 balls, while Akari Nishimura Kano is playing with 2 runs on 9 balls.
Japan got 7 runs as extra in its innings. Japan's run rate has been slow due to the disciplined performance of the Indian bowlers.
Japan's innings begins
Till the time of writing the news, Japan women's team has scored 24 runs in 6 overs without losing any wicket. Haruna Iwasaki and Akari Nishimura Kano are present at the crease. Iwasaki has scored 10 runs in 20 balls, while Akari Nishimura Kano has 10 runs in 17 balls. Both the batsmen have hit one four each so far.
Indian bowlers have tried to control the run rate in the initial overs. However, Team India is waiting for the first success. For India, Kranti Gaur, Nandani Sharma and Shri Charani have bowled the initial overs.
The team that wins the match will reach the semi-finals
This match between India and Japan is part of the knockout stage. In the women's cricket competition, semi-finals will be played after the quarter-final matches. In such a situation, the campaign of the losing team in this match will end, while the winner will enter the last four.
The women's cricket competition of the Asian Games 2026 is being held from 17 to 22 September. India has entered this competition as the defending champion. The team's aim is to once again move ahead in the race for the gold medal.
Team India has arrived after winning the Asia Cup
The Indian women's team has recently reached the Asian Games by winning the title of Asia Cup 2026. India won the trophy by defeating Sri Lanka in the final. Indian batsmen and bowlers had performed impressively in this tournament.
Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma are the key batting options of the team, while the onus is on Deepti Sharma, Sri Charani, Kranti Gaur and other bowlers to contain the Japanese batsmen. The experience of captain Harmanpreet Kaur is also expected to strengthen the team.
JPNW vs INDW Asian Games 2026: Teams of India and Japan
Japan women's team (playing XI)
Haruna Iwasaki, Akari Nishimura Kano, Mai Yanagida (captain), Erica Oda, Ahilya Chandel, Shimako Kato, Ayaka Kato-Stafford, Ayumi Fujakawa, Hinase Goto (wk), Erica Toguchi Quinn and Nonoha Yasumoto.
India women's team (playing XI)
Smriti Mandhana, Shefali Verma, Gunalan Kamalini, Harmanpreet Kaur (captain), Bharti Phulmali, Richa Ghosh (wicketkeeper), Dipti Sharma, Sri Charni, Shreyanka Patil, Kranti Goud and Nandini Sharma.
Let us tell you that the Bangladesh-China match in the initial quarter-finals was canceled due to rain, after which Bangladesh advanced. Pakistan defeated Thailand and made it to the semi-finals. Sri Lanka has also defeated Malaysia in the quarter-finals today (18 September), and has reached the semi-finals.