Mumbai: Some of Indian cricket’s biggest names will take the Asian Games stage for the first time as the country’s men’s and women’s teams prepare to defend the historic gold medals they won at the 19th Asian Games Hangzhou 2022.
The men’s team will be led by Shreyas Iyer and features a formidable combination of established international stars and exciting young talent. Jasprit Bumrah, Abhishek Sharma and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi are among the prominent players set to make their first appearance at the Asian Games as India aims to retain the title.
The women’s team, led by Harmanpreet Kaur, features some of the most accomplished names in world cricket, including Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma, Deepti Sharma and Richa Ghosh. Having won the inaugural women’s cricket gold at the previous Asian Games, India will enter the competition looking to extend its dominance on the continental stage. Cricket action begins ahead of the Asian Games opening ceremony, with the women’s competition commencing on September 17, followed by the men’s tournament from September 24. The presence of several of India’s leading international players makes this one of the country’s strongest cricket contingents at the Asian Games.
Sony Sports Network has also assembled a distinguished panel for its studio show, Sports Extraaa. Mithali Raj, Anjum Chopra, Reema Malhotra and WV Raman will provide expert analysis during the women’s competition, while Ajay Jadeja, Sanjay Manjrekar and WV Raman will headline the coverage of the men’s tournament. In addition to this Sony Sports Network will provide English, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu and Kannada commentary for all India matches.
Women’s Cricket Commentators:
Mithali Raj, Anjum Chopra, WV Raman, Reema Malhotra, Maninder Singh, Raman Bhanot, Aneesha Ghosh, Suhail Chandok, Atish Thukral
Men’s Cricket Commentators:
Sanjay Manjrekar, Ajay Jadeja, Maninder Singh, Vivek Razdan, Raman Bhanot, WV Raman, Suhail Chandok, Sameer Kochar, Atish Thukral
Comments:
Rajesh Kaul, Chief Revenue Officer and Business Head, Sports and International, Sony Pictures Networks India:
“India’s double gold at the previous Asian Games was a landmark moment for cricket. This time, the presence of players such as Jasprit Bumrah, Shreyas Iyer, Harmanpreet Kaur and Smriti Mandhana gives the competition even greater significance and makes it one of the most anticipated cricketing events of the year.
“With some of Indian cricket’s biggest names appearing at the Asian Games for the first time, fans can expect high-quality and fiercely competitive cricket. Our expert panel on Sports Extraaa will complement the action with analysis and perspectives drawn from years of experience at the highest level.”
Sanjay Manjrekar, former India Men’s cricketer:
“India has set the benchmark in Asian cricket over the years, and this squad has everything it takes to continue that legacy. With established stars alongside fearless young talent, the team has the depth and quality to defend its Asian Games gold medal. Cricket at the Asian Games brings a different kind of challenge, and it’ll be fascinating to see how this group embraces the responsibility of maintaining India’s dominance on the continental stage.”
Mithali Raj, former India Women’s cricket team captain & Khel Ratna Awardee:
“Winning consistently in Asia demands adaptability, consistency and the ability to maintain high standards across different conditions—qualities that Indian cricket has displayed time and again. Our women’s team enters the Asian Games as the defending champions, carrying the confidence of sustained success while remaining hungry for another gold medal. Every gold medal matters beyond the sport itself, adding to India’s overall medal tally at the Games and bringing with it an added sense of responsibility as well as motivation. I’m looking forward to analysing how the Indian team approaches this opportunity to further reinforce the country’s position as a leading force in Asian cricket.”
Anjum Chopra, former India Women’s cricket team captain, Padmashree, & ICC Hall of Famer:
“The Asian Games is another opportunity for Indian cricket to showcase the incredible depth of talent that has been built across both the men’s and women’s game. As defending champions, expectations will naturally be high, but this group has the experience, skill and mindset to thrive on that challenge. It promises to be an exciting campaign as India looks to once again stand atop the podium and strengthen its dominance in Asian cricket.”
Watch Cricket at Asian Games 2026 live and exclusive on Sony Sports Network and Sony LIV, starting from September 17, 2026.
About the Author
