Harmanpreet Kaur Retained as India Captain for Asian Games Despite World Cup Setback

India have retained Harmanpreet Kaur as captain for the women's cricket team at the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan , backing her leadership despite the side's disappointing exit from the ICC Women's T20 World Cup in England.

The Women's Selection Committee on Tuesday announced a 15-member squad for the continental showpiece, which will be held from September 19 to October 4 . The decision to continue with Harmanpreet at the helm comes just days after India's World Cup campaign ended in the group stage following a defeat to Australia on Sunday.

India will head to Japan as the defending champions , having secured the gold medal in women's cricket at the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou, China . Senior batter Smriti Mandhana has been retained as vice-captain, ensuring continuity in the team's leadership group as it prepares to defend its title.

The selectors have made only one change to the squad that featured in the World Cup. Wicketkeeper-batter Yastika Bhatia has been left out, while young wicketkeeper G Kamalini has earned a place in the squad. The move signals the selectors' confidence in the emerging talent while largely maintaining the core group that represented India on the global stage.

A notable inclusion is all-rounder Shreyanka Patil , who suffered an ankle injury during the World Cup and was ruled out midway through the tournament. However, her participation in the Asian Games will depend on obtaining the necessary fitness clearance.

India's batting unit will be led by experienced players such as Harmanpreet, Mandhana, Shafali Verma , Jemimah Rodrigues , and Richa Ghosh , while the bowling attack will feature key performers including Deepti Sharma , Renuka Thakur , Sree Charani , Arundhati Reddy , and Nandni Sharma .

The squad reflects the selectors' faith in a settled combination as India target a successful defence of their Asian Games crown and seek to bounce back from their underwhelming World Cup campaign.

India squad: 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 and Nandni Sharma.