Defending champions India kick off their Asian Games 2026 campaign under Harmanpreet Kaur, boasting a powerhouse lineup that features Smriti Mandhana, Deepti Sharma, and Richa Ghosh. They arrive with clear gold-medal ambitions and an aggressive, settled approach across all departments. Japan enters the match as major underdogs, taking on one of the form teams in modern international cricket. It is a rare, high-stakes exposure opportunity for the Japanese squad, who will be keen to test their execution against world-class opposition.
Squads:
Japan Women’s Cricket Team
Erika Oda, Mai Yanagida (C), Akari Nishimura, Ahilya Chandel, Ayumi Fujikawa, Hinase Goto, Haruna Iwasaki, Shimako Kato, Meg Ogawa, Kurumi Ota, Seika Sumi, Elena Kusuda-Nairn, Nonoha Yasumoto, Erika Toguchi-Quinn, Ayaka Kato Stafford
India Women’s Cricket Team
Harmanpreet Kaur (C), Smriti Mandhana, Deepti Sharma, Radha Yadav, Arundhati Reddy, Bharti Fulmali, Renuka Singh, Shafali Verma, Richa Ghosh, Shreyanka Patil, Nandani Sharma, Kranti Gaud, N Sree Charani, G Kamalini
Players to watch out:
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.
Pitch:
Situated in Nisshin, the pitch at Kōrogi Athletic Park features a natural grass surface with multiple playing strips that usually offers early seam and swing movement for pace bowlers with the fresh ball. Once batters adapt to the bounce and pace, the surface becomes increasingly true and comfortable for strokeplay, while spinners tend to get moderate grip and turn as the match progresses into the middle overs.
Weather:
Nisshin is expected to experience mostly sunny skies, making for ideal conditions overall. Temperatures will peak around 29°C during the day before dropping to a low of 21°C, accompanied by light southwest winds around 9 mph and humidity levels near 74 percent.
Fantasy Playing XI:
Harmanpreet Kaur, Smriti Mandhana, Deepti Sharma, Radha Yadav, Arundhati Reddy, Bharti Fulmali, Erika Oda, Mai Yanagida, Akari Nishimura, Ahilya Chandel, Ayumi Fujikawa
Match Details:
Date – September 18, 2026
Time – 10:30 AM
Venue – Korogi Sports Park, Nisshin
Broadcast – Sony Sports, Sony Liv
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