There have been some changes in Team India for the Asian Games 2026. The men’s selection committee has selected a 15-member team, in which young batsman Vaibhav Suryavanshi has also been given a chance. Star all-rounder Hardik Pandya has not been able to make a place in this team. The command of the team will be in the hands of Shreyas Iyer, while Tilak Verma has been made the vice-captain. Sanju Samson and Ishan Kishan will handle the responsibility of wicketkeeping.
Vaibhav Suryavanshi got Asian Games ticket
This is another big opportunity for Vaibhav Suryavanshi. He has been included in the 15-member Asian Games team. Vaibhav has also been selected for the three-match T20I series against Afghanistan.
That means the selectors have continued to have faith in young Vaibhav. In the Asian Games, he will get a chance to showcase his batting on the big stage of international cricket.
Hardik Pandya out of the team
Hardik Pandya’s name is not in the team selected for the Asian Games. Shivam Dubey, Niritish Kumar Reddy, Akshar Patel and Washington Sundar have been included in the team as all-rounders.
The bowling department of the team will be in the hands of Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh and Yash Thakur. Apart from these, Varun Chakraborty and Ravi Bishnoi will strengthen the spin department.
Entry of Yash Thakur in place of Harshit Rana
The selection committee has also given a big update regarding Harshit Rana. Harshit Rana was progressing well during rehabilitation, but on September 7, he suffered a rectus femoris strain while bowling in a match simulation.
After this, he has been dropped from both the Afghanistan T20I series and Asian Games due to injury. Vidarbha fast bowler Yash Thakur has been included in his place.
What does Yash Thakur’s record say?
27 year old Yash Thakur has recently made his T20I debut on India’s tour of Zimbabwe. He played two matches there and took four wickets. Yash’s domestic T20 record is also good. He has taken 114 wickets in 76 T20 matches. During this period his economy rate has been 8.20. Now Yash has two big opportunities in front of him. He will be part of the Indian team in the three-match T20I series against Afghanistan and after that will also be available for the Asian Games.
Afghanistan series team also changed
There are 15 players in India’s updated squad for the three-match T20I series against Afghanistan. Shreyas Iyer is the captain and Tilak Verma is the vice-captain. The team includes Abhishek Sharma, Vaibhav Suryavanshi, Sanju Samson, Ishan Kishan, Shivam Dubey, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Varun Chakraborty, Ravi Bishnoi, Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh and Yash Thakur.
India’s updated squad for Afghanistan T20I series: Shreyas Iyer (captain), Abhishek Sharma, Vaibhav Suryavanshi, Sanju Samson (wicketkeeper), Ishan Kishan (wicketkeeper), Tilak Verma (vice-captain), Shivam Dubey, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Varun Chakraborty, Ravi Bishnoi, Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, Yash Thakur.
15-member team of Asian Games: 15 players have also been selected in the Indian team for the Asian Games. Both Vaibhav Suryavanshi and Yash Thakur have got a place in it.
India’s squad for Asian Games 2026: Shreyas Iyer (captain), Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson (wicketkeeper), Ishan Kishan (wicketkeeper), Shivam Dubey, Tilak Verma (vice-captain), Nitish Kumar Reddy, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Varun Chakraborty, Ravi Bishnoi, Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, Vaibhav Suryavanshi, Yash Thakur.
In the statement issued by BCCI Secretary Devjit Saikia, information was given about the injury of Harshit Rana and the inclusion of Yash Thakur as his replacement.
Keep in mind that the Asian Games will start from 19th September and continue till 4th October, where the Indian team will play directly in the quarter-finals on 28th September. The T20 series against Afghanistan is starting from 13th September. The remaining two matches will be held on 15 and 17 September. All the matches of Afghanistan series are to be held in Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi.
