Sanju Samson of India during the Practice Session at Korogi Sports Park, Nisshin, Japan, on September 27, 2026.
Photo: Deepak Malik / CREIMAS for BCCI

The game between India and Afghanistan in the second quarter-final of the ongoing Asian Games has been abandoned without a single ball being bowled due to rain. Shreyas Iyer-led side will face Pakistan on Thursday at Korogi Sports Park, in Nisshin, in the semifinals.

Earlier, Iyer said it would be quite an honour for him to lead the Indian side in this tournament. “It’s an honour to be representing India in the Asian Games and captaining it at the same time,” Iyer said during the pre-match press conference.

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“When you represent India, there are always expectations that you have to finish at the top. And that is a good pressure. When there are expectations, you want to deliver. At the same time, I feel that we should not think much about the outcome. And we have set a standard as a team. We keep trying to transcend that standard in every match.”

Iyer also emphasised the importance of this tournament as part of the preparation for the Olympics in 2028. “Every match is important. Because you get practice from every match. You get the opportunity to play with new teams. So, the way cricket is growing, the competition is increasing. And it’s good for cricket overall.

“We will get opportunities, we will get the chance to play matches. There are a lot of matches ahead of the Asian Games. So, we will have to maintain good fitness and mindset,” Iyer added.

Another interesting thing to watch through the tournament is Sanju Samson, who has been brought back into the side against bilateral series against Afghanistan earlier were he amassed back-to-back half-centuries. However, he did not have substantial score against Japan in the lone T20I game.

Ace pace bowler Jasprit Bumrah too returned to the side during the Afghanistan series after an injury sustained in England, and he got better and better as that series went on. Although he did not play against Japan, Bumrah will play a crucial part in India winning gold in this tournament. 

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