Who will India face in the Asian Games 2026 cricket quarter-final?
India will face Afghanistan in the Asian Games 2026 men’s cricket quarter-final. The match is scheduled for 28 September at 10:00 AM IST at Korogi Athletic Park in Aichi, Japan. Afghanistan took the Group A runner-up place after Japan versus Nepal ended with no result because rain prevented Japan’s chase.
Nepal finished first in Group A with three points. Afghanistan finished second with two points and therefore entered India’s A2 quarter-final slot.
- Fixture
- India vs Afghanistan
- Date
- 28 September 2026
- Start time
- 10:00 AM IST
- Venue
- Korogi Athletic Park, Aichi, Japan
The opponent is no longer a projection. The final Group A result removed the earlier net run rate scenario: Nepal advanced as the group winner, Afghanistan qualified in second place, and Japan were eliminated.
How did Afghanistan finish second in Group A?
Group A contained Afghanistan, Japan, and Nepal. Afghanistan began with a 48-run win over Japan. Nepal then defeated Afghanistan by five wickets on 25 September, successfully chasing a target of 103 in 17.2 overs. That left the group order dependent on the final Japan–Nepal match.
Rain reduced Nepal’s innings against Japan to 15 overs. Nepal reached 149 for 4, but Japan’s chase could not begin. The match was recorded as no result, giving Nepal and Japan one point each. Nepal moved to three points, Afghanistan remained on two, and Japan finished with one.
Final Group A standings
| Team | Played | Record | Points | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nepal | 2 | 1 win, 1 no result | 3 | Group winner |
| Afghanistan | 2 | 1 win, 1 loss | 2 | Runner-up; face India |
| Japan | 2 | 1 loss, 1 no result | 1 | Eliminated |
The tournament bracket sends the Group A runner-up to India’s quarter-final. Once Afghanistan finished second, the India–Afghanistan fixture became confirmed without a net run rate calculation.
What happened in Japan vs Nepal?
Japan versus Nepal on 26 September ended with no result. Nepal batted first in a rain-affected 15-over innings and made 149 for 4. Sundeep Jora scored an unbeaten 57 from 32 balls, while Lokesh Bam added an unbeaten 52 from 22. Persistent rain then prevented Japan from starting the chase.
Afghanistan beat Japan
Afghanistan opened Group A with a 48-run victory. Those two points remained the foundation of their second-place finish.
Nepal beat Afghanistan
Nepal chased 103 with five wickets and 16 balls remaining, moving level with Afghanistan before the final group match.
Japan vs Nepal had no result
Nepal posted 149 for 4 in 15 overs, but rain stopped the chase from starting. The shared point settled the final group order.
The abandoned chase matters because the standings, rather than a completed Japan–Nepal result, confirmed the quarter-final pairings. Nepal will face Sri Lanka as Group A winner, while Afghanistan face India as Group A runner-up.
When and where is India vs Afghanistan?
India enter the men’s competition at the knockout stage after receiving a first-round bye. The official schedule places the quarter-final against Afghanistan on Monday, 28 September at 10:00 AM IST.
India vs Afghanistan Asian Games 2026 quarter-final schedule
| Fixture | India vs Afghanistan |
|---|---|
| Date | Monday, 28 September 2026 |
| India start time | 10:00 AM IST |
| Venue | Korogi Athletic Park, Aichi, Japan |
| Format | Men’s T20 quarter-final |
| How confirmed | Afghanistan finished second in Group A |
The broader tournament structure is explained in the International Cricket ID guide, which separates national-team events from franchise competitions. Readers who want format context can also use the T20 Cricket ID guide to distinguish a T20 international event from domestic and franchise T20 cricket.
Who is in India’s updated Asian Games squad?
The latest BCCI update lists a 14-player India squad led by Shreyas Iyer, with Tilak Varma as vice-captain. Vipraj Nigam replaced Varun Chakaravarthy after a side strain, while Nitish Kumar Reddy was withdrawn from the Asian Games squad and moved to India’s ODI group for the West Indies series.
This is the most recent BCCI list used for this article. A confirmed playing XI is not available until the toss, and a later squad or availability notice would supersede this list.
What should readers check before India vs Afghanistan?
The opponent is confirmed, but match-day details can still change. Readers should distinguish the tournament squad from the playing XI and use an official competition or board source for any later schedule, availability, toss, or result update.
- Recheck the 28 September start time if an official schedule notice is issued.
- Use the toss announcement for the final playing XIs.
- Check the BCCI for any late India squad or availability change.
- Use an official scorecard for live status and the final result.
- Treat social posts as leads to verify, not as the final authority.
Vedik Exchange changed the article’s “last checked” time because the opponent and Group A result materially changed. The original publication date remains visible and unchanged.
Questions about India vs Afghanistan in the Asian Games quarter-final
Who will India face in the Asian Games 2026 cricket quarter-final?
India will face Afghanistan. Afghanistan finished second in Group A after Japan versus Nepal ended with no result on 26 September.
Why did Afghanistan qualify to play India?
Afghanistan finished with two points from a win over Japan and a loss to Nepal. Nepal topped the group with three points, so Afghanistan took the Group A runner-up position assigned to India’s quarter-final.
What happened in Japan vs Nepal?
Nepal made 149 for 4 in a rain-reduced 15-over innings. Japan could not begin the chase because of further rain, so the match ended with no result and each team received one point.
What time is India vs Afghanistan?
The official schedule lists India versus Afghanistan for 10:00 AM IST on 28 September 2026 at Korogi Athletic Park in Aichi, Japan.