'Get used to the conditions': Shreyas Iyer identifies India's biggest hurdle before Asian Games gold medal bid

Before beginning their Asian Games campaign, captain Shreyas Iyer emphasizes the importance of adapting to new conditions and teamwork for success.

India is set to begin their campaign at the Asian Games 2026 in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, from September 20. This time, India will look to better their all-time highest medal tally of 106 that they managed to achieve in the previous edition of the Asian Games in 2023. One of the biggest contenders for the gold medal at the continental event is the Indian men's cricket team, who are entering with a full-strength squad led by captain Shreyas Iyer. Before they begin their campaign, the Indian captain opened up about it.

Shreyas Iyer spoke before India begin their Asian Games 2026 campaign. (ANI)

In a video released by BCCI on their official social media handles, Shreyas Iyer said that they need to get used to the conditions in Japan because they are playing there for the first time.

"Regarding the Asian Games, this is going to be my first time. So, I am looking forward to going there and firstly to get used to the conditions because we have never been there before," Iyer said.

Deep Dive

Why is Shreyas Iyer emphasizing the need for the Indian cricket team to adapt to conditions in Japan before the Asian Games?

What preparations are being made for the Indian cricket team's historic T20 match against Japan before the Asian Games?

What challenges did the Indian men's cricket team face regarding their kits before the Asian Games?

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"So, having a set of ideas about how the wickets are over there, it's going to be a combination of everything and the most important aspect is that again we gel along as a team, and this series is definitely a great momentum towards Asian Games," the Indian skipper added.

India hunts for gold at Asian Games 2026

India are defending their gold medal at the Asian Games 2026. They won the gold in the last edition of the Games at Hangzhou in 2023. In that campaign, India sent a second-string squad which was captained by Ruturaj Gaikwad.

This time India has sent a full-strength squad featuring the likes of Shreyas Iyer, Abhishek Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah, etc. Hence, it is expected that they will easily win the gold.

India will begin their campaign directly in the quarter-finals on Monday, September 28.

However, before they begin their Asian Games campaign, India will have some preparation as they take on Japan for the first time in a historic T20I game.

Gautam Gambhir will not be serving as the head coach of the team at the Asian Games, and it will be VVS Laxman who will serve in the role at the continental tournament in Aichi-Nagoya.

India's squad for Asian Games 2026

Shreyas Iyer (captain), Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson (wicket-keeper), Ishan Kishan (wicket-keeper), Shivam Dube, Tilak Varma (vice-captain), Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Vipraj Nigam, Ravi Bishnoi, Jasprit Bumrah, Yash Thakur, Arshdeep Singh, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi.