By Sanjay Menon — 30 June 2026 — 2 min read Harmanpreet Kaur has been retained as captain of the 15-member India squad for the upcoming Asian Games in Japan, despite the team’s earlier-than-expected exit from the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup in England. The Asian Games are scheduled to take place in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, from September 19 to October 4. The Indian team will enter the Asian Games as defending champions, having secured the gold medal in the previous edition held in Hangzhou, China, in 2023. Both men’s and women’s cricket competitions at the Asian Games are played in the T20 format. Squad Changes and Key Players Smriti Mandhana will continue in her role as vice-captain, supporting Harmanpreet Kaur. The 37-year-old Harmanpreet, who led India to victory in the women’s ODI World Cup last year, has faced criticism following the team’s performance in England. Wicketkeeper-batter Yastika Bhatia is the sole player from the World Cup squad to be dropped, with G. Kamalini drafted in as her replacement. All-rounder Shreyanka Patil, who was sidelined during the World Cup due due to an ankle injury, has been included in the squad, though her participation is contingent on fitness clearance. The batting lineup will feature Mandhana, Shafali Verma, Jemimah Rodrigues, and Richa Ghosh. The primary bowling responsibilities are expected to be handled by Deepti Sharma, Renuka Singh, Shree Charani, Arundhati Reddy, and Nandni Sharma. Recent Performance and Future Outlook During their recent World Cup campaign, the Indian team fell short of expectations. They secured comfortable victories against Pakistan, Bangladesh, and the Netherlands but ultimately lost to South Africa and Australia, leading to their group-stage exit on Sunday, June 28, 2026. Despite their early exit from the World Cup, the team has qualified for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics as the highest-placed Asian team in the competition. The full squad for the 2026 Asian Games includes: 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 Nandni Sharma The Women’s Selection Committee officially announced the squad on Tuesday, June 30, 2026. Post navigation Japan players and fans receive comfort after World Cup exit to Brazil World Cup: France, Mexico, and Norway face crucial Round of 32 matches