India’s men’s cricket team advanced to the semi-finals of the Asian Games 2026 without bowling a single ball after their quarter-final against Afghanistan was abandoned due to persistent rain on September 28.
The match, scheduled at Korogi Sports Park in Nisshin, was called off without a toss as continuous rain and a damp outfield made play impossible. Under the tournament rules, the higher-ranked team in the ICC Men’s T20I rankings progresses in case of a washout. India, ranked No. 1, advanced, while Afghanistan (ranked 10th) were eliminated.
The Indian side, led by Shreyas Iyer, had entered the quarter-finals directly as one of the top-seeded teams. Afghanistan had qualified through the group stage. The fixture was part of a busy day for the Indian contingent at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, with athletes also competing in athletics, shooting, boxing, squash and hockey.
This marks the second consecutive Asian Games in which Afghanistan’s campaign against India was affected by rain. In 2023 at Hangzhou, the final was washed out after limited play, with India awarded gold on ranking.
India will face the winner of the quarter-final between Sri Lanka and Nepal in the semi-final, scheduled for October 1 at the same venue. Pakistan also advanced on the same day after their quarter-final against Hong Kong was washed out.
The defending champions remain firmly on course to retain the gold medal they won in Hangzhou. With the women’s team already securing gold earlier in the Games, India’s cricket contingent continues to make strong progress.
