🏏Asian Games 2026: India W vs Japan W: 4th QF on 18/09/26🏏- Page 2

India, meanwhile, arrive in the Asian Games as the reigning Asia Cup champions after beating Sri Lanka in the final. They had a largely comfortable run through the tournament, with the opening pair clicking and the bowling attack doing its job consistently. But there were a few areas that remained a concern, particularly the lack of contributions from the middle order and some untidy work in the field. India were able to overcome those shortcomings in the Asia Cup because none of their opponents quite had the firepower to punish them. The Asian Games presents another opportunity to fine-tune those areas, although against Japan, India will start as overwhelming favourites to get their campaign off to a winning start. Toss and teams coming up

Teams:

Japan Women (Playing XI): Haruna Iwasaki, Akari Nishimura Kano(w), Mai Yanagida(c), Erika Oda, Ahilya Chandel, Shimako Kato, Ayaka Kato-Stafford, Ayumi Fujikawa, Hinase Goto, Erika Toguchi Quinn, Nonoha Yasumoto

India Women (Playing XI): Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma, Gunalan Kamalini, Harmanpreet Kaur(c), Bharti Fulmali, Richa Ghosh(w), Deepti Sharma, Shree Charani, Shreyanka Patil, Kranti Gaud, Nandani Sharma

India Women have won the toss and have opted to field

An interesting quirk is that the Asian Games officially begin on September 19. But the tournament schedule includes some games before the official start-date, which also includes some team-sport events like women's cricket. Teqball - a sport that is a mix of football and table tennis - is another sport that began before the official start of the Asian Games.

"What a story for Vinay Iyer. Mumbai club cricketer to JPL best batter to coaching the Japan Womens cricket team against India. "

Originally posted by: Savera84

Players to watch out from Japan:

Erika Oda

Featured in 51 matches from 2019 to 2026, Erika Oda has scored 802 runs across 49 innings. She holds the highest score of 52* and an average of 18.22, remaining undefeated on 5 occasions. Scoring at a strike rate of 84.59 off 948 balls, her tally includes 1 half-century, 93 boundaries, and 3 sixes.

Ahilya Chandel

Active from 2022 to 2026, Ahilya Chandel has taken 41 wickets across 48 matches and 48 innings. Bowling 163.3 overs (981 balls) with 7 maidens, she boasts a disciplined economy rate of 4.69 and an average of 18.70. Her standout bowling performance is highlighted by best figures of 4/8 alongside 2 four-wicket hauls.

Smriti Mandhana

A key pillar in the batting lineup since 2013, Smriti Mandhana has amassed 4,751 runs in 176 matches and 170 innings up to 2026. She holds an average of 30.65 and a strike rate of 126.55 from 3,754 balls, featuring a high score of 124. Her prolific run-scoring includes 2 centuries, 36 half-centuries, 639 fours, and 98 sixes.

Deepti Sharma

Spanning 154 matches between 2016 and 2026, Deepti Sharma has taken 182 wickets in 151 bowling innings. Delivering 542.2 overs (3,254 balls) with 14 maidens, she keeps runs tight with an economy rate of 6.28 and an average of 18.72. Her game-changing spells are backed by best figures of 5/10, one four-wicket haul, and 2 five-wicket hauls.

Go girls

May Team India winnn

Thank you for the tags, Savera ji

Shreyanka Patil's return is the notable change in the Indian XI. She suffered an ankle ligament injury during the Women's T20 World Cup in June and was named in the India squad pending fitness clearance. This will be her first competitive match in three months since the injury.

Japan Women

(6.2/20 ov) 24/1

India Women

IND Women chose to field.

Current RR: 3.78

• Last 5 ov (RR): 21/1 (4.20)

JPNW 27-2(8.4)

CRR:3.12

India Women opt to bowl

Shafali Verma to Akari Kano, out Caught by Gunalan Kamalini!! Kano's long stay at the crease comes to an end, well floated up, Kano comes down the track and looks to clear mid on, but got it high off the bat and miscues it to Kamalini, who takes a comfortable catch. Akari Kano c Gunalan Kamalini b Shafali Verma 25(47) [4s-2]

JPN W 46/4

Japan Women

(16.1/20 ov) 49/4

India Women

IND Women chose to field.

Current RR: 3.03

• Last 5 ov (RR): 17/2 (3.40)