Asian Games 2026: Shreyas Iyer-led India’s full cricket schedule - Check fixtures, match timings and venues

India will begin their Asian Games 2026 men's cricket campaign in the quarter-finals, with the defending champions among the four teams that have received direct entry into the knockout stage.The cricket competition at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games will be played in the T20 format from September 24 to October 3 in Japan. India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka have secured direct quarter-final berths based on their ICC rankings, while six other teams will compete in the preliminary round for the remaining four places.When will India play their first match?India's first match of the Asian Games will be the second quarter-final on September 28. The reigning champions will face the team that finishes second in Group A of the preliminary round. The match is scheduled to begin at 10:30 AM IST (2:00 PM local time) at the Korogi Sports Park in Nisshin, Aichi.India's exact opponent will only be confirmed after the preliminary group matches conclude on September 26.India's Asian Games 2026 Men's Cricket ScheduleDateMatchStageTime (IST)VenueSeptember 28India vs 2nd-placed Group A teamQuarter-final10:30 AMKorogi Sports Park, NisshinOctober 1India/QF winner vs QF3 winnerSemi-final*10:30 AMKorogi Sports Park, NisshinOctober 3India/SF winner vs opponentGold Medal Match*10:30 AMKorogi Sports Park, NisshinOctober 3India/SF loser vs opponentBronze Medal Match*5:30 AMKorogi Sports Park, Nisshin*India's semi-final and medal-match fixtures are subject to qualification.Who can India face in the quarter-finals?India will face the second-placed team from Group A in the quarter-final. Group A features Afghanistan, Japan and Nepal, meaning one of those teams will eventually emerge as India's quarter-final opponent.Group B consists of Hong Kong-China, Malaysia and Oman. The top two teams from each group will progress to the quarter-finals. Pakistan, meanwhile, will face the second-placed team from Group B in the first quarter-final.DateFixtureTime (IST)StageSeptember 24Afghanistan vs Japan5:30 AMPreliminarySeptember 24Hong Kong, China vs Malaysia10:30 AMPreliminarySeptember 25Hong Kong, China vs Oman5:30 AMPreliminarySeptember 25Afghanistan vs Nepal10:30 AMPreliminarySeptember 26Japan vs Nepal5:30 AMPreliminarySeptember 26Malaysia vs Oman10:30 AMPreliminarySeptember 28Pakistan vs 2nd, Group B5:30 AMQuarter-finalSeptember 28India vs 2nd, Group A10:30 AMQuarter-finalSeptember 29Sri Lanka vs 1st, Group A5:30 AMQuarter-finalSeptember 29Bangladesh vs 1st, Group B10:30 AMQuarter-finalOctober 1Semi-final 15:30 AMSemi-finalOctober 1Semi-final 210:30 AMSemi-finalOctober 3Bronze-medal match5:30 AMMedal matchOctober 3Gold-medal match10:30 AMFinalAll men's cricket matches are scheduled to be played at Korogi Sports Park in Nisshin, Aichi Prefecture.India eye back-to-back Asian Games GoldIndia enter the tournament as the reigning men's cricket champions after winning the gold medal at the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou.Get the latest Sports News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.