Harmanpreet retained captain for Asian Games despite T20 WC failure:BCCI announces 15-member squad, injured Shreyanka also included

Harmanpreet Kaur retained as captain of India’s 15-member women’s cricket squad for the Asian Games in Japan from September 19 to October 4. Notably, the India Women’s captain recently suffered a big setback in the T20 World Cup, crashing out of the tournament in the group stage. A disappointing end to the campaign of the team that lifted the ODI World Cup trophy last year. However, after the end of the T20 World Cup campaign in England, there was a wave of criticism directed at the captain Harman, with a demand to relieve her of her duties. But BCCI Women has straightforwardly rejected such demands by appointing Harman to lead Women in Blue for the Asian Games 2026. Harmanpreet Kaur captain, Smriti Mandhana named vice-captain Harmanpreet Kaur will continue to lead the Women in Blue, with Smriti Mandhana named vice-captain. The squad features a blend of experienced campaigners and young talent, including Shafali Verma, Jemimah Rodrigues, Deepti Sharma and wicketkeeper-batter Richa Ghosh. G. Kamalini has also been included as a wicketkeeper option. Meanwhile, wicketkeeper-batter Yastika Bhatia was dropped from the team. Shreyanka Patil’s availability subject to fitness clearance, was ruled out of WC Shreyanka Patil, who got ruled out of the Women’s T20 World Cup after twisting her ankle, is subject to fitness clearance. The all-rounder’s ankle twisted while fielding against the Netherlands on 19 June. She was then taken off the field with the help of a stretcher, after which the BCCI announced Prema Rawat as her replacement. The Indian women’s team will head into the competition as the defending champions, having won the gold medal in the women’s cricket competition at the previous Asian Games held in Hangzhou, China. India’s squad for the 2026 Asian Games: 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 (Subject to fitness clearance), Radha Yadav, Nandni Sharma. Asian Games matches will be played in T20 format The cricket event at the Asian Games is being organised in the T20 format. The Indian women’s team is expected to get direct entry into the quarter-finals or knockout stage of the tournament, as India is among the top teams in the ICC rankings. Like last time, this time too the Indian team is expected to face its main competition from Asian teams like Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. The head coach and management are also continuously monitoring the players’ workload and fitness. India bowed out to Australia in Women’s T20 World Cup, got eliminated Australia Women sealed a six-wicket win over India Women at Lord’s to book their semi-final spot and eliminate India from the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026. Chasing a record 171, Australia reached 172/4 in the 19th over, powered by unbeaten half-centuries from Ellyse Perry and Ashleigh Gardner after recovering from 72/3. Earlier, Harmanpreet Kaur’s explosive 56 off 27 balls, along with useful contributions from Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma, guided India to 170/4, but the total proved insufficient.