India confirmed a 15-member squad for the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, with Shreyas Iyer appointed captain and teenage prodigy Vaibhav Sooryavanshi earning his place after a record-breaking IPL season.
The announcement came at a press conference in Mumbai, where Selection Committee Chairperson Ajit Agarkar and BCCI Honorary Secretary Devajit Saikia unveiled the squad. India will defend its gold medal in the men’s T20 cricket competition, scheduled from September 24 to October 3 at Korogi Athletic Park.
Shreyas Iyer’s leadership reflects his proven credentials across IPL franchises, having guided Delhi Capitals to the 2020 final, Kolkata Knight Riders to the 2024 title, and Punjab Kings to the 2025 final. His IPL 2026 campaign produced 498 runs at an average of 45.27, strengthening his case as India’s new T20I leader.
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s inclusion capped a remarkable rise. The 15-year-old scored 776 runs at a strike rate of 237.30 in IPL 2026, hitting 72 sixes and becoming the youngest Orange Cap winner. His selection marks a new era for India’s batting lineup.
The squad also features Tilak Varma as vice-captain, Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson, Ishan Kishan, Shivam Dube, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Varun Chakravarthy, Ravi Bishnoi, Jasprit Bumrah, Harshit Rana, and Arshdeep Singh.
India arrive in Japan as defending Asian Games champions and reigning ICC T20 World Cup winners. The BCCI’s decision to send a full-strength squad underscores its intent to retain dominance in global T20 cricket.
