India Secures Men's Cricket Gold at 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou

Under the captaincy of Ruturaj Gaikwad, India triumphed to win the men’s cricket gold medal at the 2023 Asian Games held in Hangzhou. This victory marked a significant achievement for the team on this prestigious stage.

Defending Champions Enter 2026 Asian Games

Heading into the 2026 Asian Games hosted across Aichi and Nagoya, India carries the title of defending champions in men’s cricket. Alongside Pakistan, India has secured direct entry into the quarterfinals, which offers a strategic advantage but no guarantee once knockout rounds commence.

Warm-Up Match Sparks Caution

Despite their champion status, India faced a tense warm-up against hosts Japan. The match was limited by rain to five overs, where India managed just 32 runs. Shreyas Iyer’s 16 was the top individual score before Japan's bowlers dismantled India’s top order. India narrowly escaped defeat, winning by just two runs, signaling a more competitive tournament ahead.

Path to Gold in 2023

India began their 2023 campaign from the quarterfinals, defeating Nepal comfortably by 23 runs to reach the semifinals. They then overwhelmed Bangladesh in the semis, setting up a final clash with Afghanistan.

The final was disrupted by persistent rain after Afghanistan posted 112 for 5 in 18.2 overs. With the match abandoned, the gold medal was awarded to India based on their higher pre-tournament ranking, while Afghanistan settled for silver and Bangladesh earned bronze.

Medal Winners at 2023 Asian Games Men’s Cricket

• Gold: India
• Silver: Afghanistan
• Bronze: Bangladesh

2026 Asian Games Men’s Cricket Schedule and Group Stage Results

• September 24 (Thursday), Group A: Afghanistan beat Japan by 48 runs
• September 24 (Thursday), Group B: Hong Kong China lost to Malaysia by eight wickets
• September 25 (Friday), Group B: Hong Kong China beat Oman by 41 runs
• September 25 (Friday), Group A: Afghanistan lost to Nepal by five wickets
• September 26 (Saturday), Group A: Japan vs Nepal
• September 26 (Saturday), Group B: Malaysia vs Oman
• September 28 (Monday), Quarter-final: Pakistan vs B2
• September 28 (Monday), Quarter-final: India vs A2
• September 29 (Tuesday), Quarter-final: Sri Lanka vs A1
• September 29 (Tuesday), Quarter-final: Bangladesh vs B1
• October 1 (Thursday), Semi-final: Pakistan/B2 vs Bangladesh/B1
• October 1 (Thursday), Semi-final: India/A2 vs Sri Lanka/A1
• October 3 (Saturday), Bronze medal match: Third-place play-off