By Jagjagran | 28 September 2026
Rain, not runs, decided India's fate today. The men's cricket quarter-final between India and Afghanistan at the Asian Games 2026 was washed out — and India have advanced to the semi-finals as the higher-ranked side.
WHAT HAPPENED
The quarter-final at Korogi Sports Park in Nisshin, Japan, was due to start at 10:30 AM IST. Persistent rain and a waterlogged outfield forced officials to abandon the match without a ball being bowled.
With no reserve day for the quarter-finals, India progressed on the basis of their higher ICC T20I ranking.
PAKISTAN ALSO THROUGH
In an almost identical scenario earlier in the day, Pakistan's quarter-final against Hong Kong, China was also called off without a toss. Pakistan advanced on ranking too.
This sets up a tantalising possibility: an India vs Pakistan final. But it depends on the semi-final draw and results — nothing is confirmed yet.
WHAT'S NEXT
→ Semi-finals: 1 October
→ Gold-medal match: 3 October
India, led by T20I captain Shreyas Iyer, are strong favourites. Their squad includes Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson, Tilak Varma, and Jasprit Bumrah. Afghanistan had sent a second-string side.
There's an echo of history here: India won gold at Hangzhou 2023 on seeding after their final against Afghanistan was also washed out.
INDIA'S GOLDEN GAMES
India's Asian Games 2026 campaign has been strong. The women's cricket team already won gold, thrashing Sri Lanka by 147 runs in the final, with Smriti Mandhana scoring 79.
India's overall medal tally stood at 37 (4 gold, 16 silver, 17 bronze) after 27 September, with standout performances including Parul Chaudhary's national-record steeplechase bronze.
THE BOTTOM LINE
India are through to the semi-finals without breaking a sweat — courtesy of the rain. All eyes now turn to 1 October, and the dream of an India-Pakistan gold-medal clash on 3 October.
Sources: Outlook India, ESPNcricinfo, Olympics.com, Business Standard.
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