The Women’s cricket competition at the 2026 Asian Games has got underway in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, with India entering the tournament as the defending champions. The Harmanpreet Kaur-led side has begun their campaign on September 18 against hosts Japan in the fourth quarter-final at the Korogi Sports Park in Nisshin. India won the women’s cricket gold medal at the previous Asian Games in Hangzhou in 2022 and will now look to repeat that success on Japanese soil.
The current Indian squad has a blend of established international stars and players who were not part of the squad that secured gold three years ago. While the likes of Harmanpreet Kaur, Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma, Deepti Sharma and Richa Ghosh return from the 2022 group, several fresh names have now become part of India’s Asian Games campaign.
10 players in India’s 2026 Asian Games squad who did not feature in 2022 edition
India’s 2026 squad contains a mixture of familiar faces from the gold-medal-winning 2022 campaign and players who have come through the ranks in the intervening years. Harmanpreet, Mandhana, Shafali, Deepti and Ghosh were all part of the 2022 squad, while the remaining 10 names represent the changes that have taken place in India’s women’s cricket setup.
1. Pratika Rawal
Pratika Rawal is one of the notable additions to the 2026 group. The right-handed batter was not part of India’s 2022 Asian Games squad and has since emerged as an option in the team’s batting unit. She was added as the replacement of Jemimah Rodrigues in Asian Games 2026 squad and her presence gives India another top-order batting choice alongside established names such as Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma.
With Rodrigues not featuring in the current squad list, Rawal’s inclusion becomes particularly significant from a squad-composition perspective. She can provide stability in the top and middle order while also giving the team another player capable of building an innings.
2. G. Kamalini
G. Kamalini represents another generation of Indian women’s cricketers that was not part of the 2022 Asian Games campaign. The wicketkeeper-batter has earned recognition for her batting ability and provides additional depth behind the stumps. Her inclusion also gives India flexibility in its combination. With Ghosh already an established wicketkeeper-batter, Kamalini provides another option in the squad while gaining experience at a major multi-sport event.
3. Bharti Fulmali
Bharti Fulmali was not part of India’s gold-medal-winning squad in 2022 but has subsequently become a familiar name in India’s wider white-ball setup. The left-handed batter adds another middle-order option to Harmanpreet Kaur’s squad. Her inclusion is also important because India’s current group has to balance experienced international players with batters who can adapt to different match situations.
4. Sree Charani
Sree Charani is one of the bowling options who has emerged since India’s 2022 Asian Games campaign. The left-arm spinner brings a different angle to the bowling attack and can be particularly useful during the middle overs. Her inclusion highlights the development of India’s spin-bowling depth over the past few years. Alongside Deepti and Radha Yadav, Charani gives India multiple spin options and allows the captain to build different bowling combinations depending on the conditions.
5. Renuka Singh Thakur
Renuka Singh Thakur was not part of the 2022 Asian Games squad but has since established herself as one of India’s leading pace-bowling options. Her ability to make an impact with the new ball gives India something different from its spin-heavy resources. In a short-format tournament where every game carries significant importance, early wickets can have a major influence on the direction of a match. Renuka therefore adds valuable experience and pace to the attack.
6. Kranti Gaud
Kranti Gaud is another player who was not involved in India’s 2022 Asian Games campaign. Her inclusion reflects the continued emergence of young bowling talent within India’s women’s cricket system. Gaud provides another pace option and increases the depth available to the captain. While the experienced players are expected to carry significant responsibility, tournaments such as the Asian Games also provide younger players with an opportunity to gain exposure in high-pressure international cricket.
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7. Arundhati Reddy
Arundhati Reddy is among the players who bring an all-round dimension to the 2026 squad. She was not part of India’s 2022 Asian Games group but has since become an experienced member of the national setup.
Her value comes from her ability to contribute with the ball while also offering batting depth. That flexibility can be particularly useful in T20 cricket, where teams often need players who can cover more than one role.
8. Shreyanka Patil
Shreyanka Patil is another player who was absent from India’s 2022 Asian Games squad but is now part of the 2026 setup. The all-rounder has developed into an important option for India in the shorter format.
Patil’s ability to contribute with both bat and ball gives India another combination option. She was initially included in the Asian Games squad subject to fitness clearance after an ankle injury, making her availability an aspect that attracted attention ahead of the tournament.
9. Radha Yadav
Radha brings considerable experience to the 2026 squad despite not being part of the 2022 Asian Games group. The left-arm spinner gives Harmanpreet Kaur another experienced option in the spin department.
Her ability to bowl economically and operate during the middle phase can be important in T20 cricket. With India having several spin options in the squad, Radha’s experience gives the captain another established choice when constructing the playing XI.
10. Nandani Sharma
Nandani Sharma completes the list of players who were not part of India’s 2022 Asian Games squad but are now involved in the title defence. Her inclusion is another indication of the growing depth in India’s women’s cricket system. While the likes of Harmanpreet, Smriti and Deepti provide the experience of having already won Asian Games gold, Nandani belongs to the group of players getting the opportunity to experience the tournament for the first time.
For players such as Nandani, the Asian Games could become an important stage in their development, particularly given that India enter the competition as defending champions.
This article was first published at WomenCricket.com, a Cricket Times company.
