India’s squad for the Asian Games 2026 in Japan has several familiar names, but also features a number of players who were not part of the team’s Asia Cup 2025 campaign. The contrast is particularly interesting because India’s T20 setup has undergone considerable change over the past year.
The original Asian Games squad included Nitish Kumar Reddy, but the all-rounder was subsequently withdrawn after being selected for India’s ODI series against the West Indies. Vipraj Nigam was named as his replacement after Varun Chakaravarthy pulled off due to side strain.
6 Team India stars in Asian Games 2026 lineup who were absent from Asia Cup 2025
1. Shreyas Iyer
Shreyas Iyer is perhaps the most notable name on this list. The right-handed batter was not part of India’s T20I setup during the 2025 Asia Cup, where Suryakumar Yadav captained a squad featuring players such as Shubman Gill, Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma and Hardik Pandya.
Iyer has since made a significant return to India’s T20 plans and was appointed captain for the 2026 Asian Games. His experience in international cricket and leadership background make him one of the senior figures in the squad.
His return is also notable because he went nearly two and a half years without playing a T20I before returning to the format in June 2026 and that too as a captain.
2. Ishan Kishan
Ishan Kishan is another high-profile player who missed the Asia Cup 2025 squad. India instead had Sanju Samson and Jitesh Sharma as their wicketkeeping options, with Kishan outside the tournament squad.
The left-handed batter brings experience at the top of the order and can also provide wicketkeeping flexibility. His inclusion in the Asian Games squad gives India another aggressive batting option in the shorter format.
Kishan is also among the players returning to a prominent role in India’s T20 plans, having been selected for the Asian Games and subsequent T20I assignments.
3. Ravi Bishnoi
Ravi Bishnoi was another player absent from India’s Asia Cup 2025 squad. The leg-spinner has since returned to the T20I setup and earned his place in the Asian Games squad.
Bishnoi offers India a different spin option with his attacking approach and ability to bowl through the middle overs. He was also part of India’s gold-medal-winning squad at the 2022 Asian Games, making him one of the returning members with previous experience of the competition.
That familiarity could be useful when India begin their 2026 campaign.
4. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi represents one of the most intriguing additions to India’s 2026 setup.
The teenage batter was not part of the Asia Cup 2025 squad and was not yet an established senior international player at that stage. In June this year, however, he earned an India call-up and was selected for the Ireland and England tour. The young batter has also been included in India’s T20I squad for the upcoming series against the West Indies.
His selection adds a youthful dimension to an otherwise experienced squad.
5. Vipraj Nigam
Vipraj Nigam is the latest addition to the Asian Games squad. The leg-spinner replaced Varun Chakaravarthy, who was ruled out because of a side strain.
Nigam was not part of India’s Asia Cup 2025 squad and has now received an opportunity on a major international multi-sport stage.
His inclusion also gives India another spin-bowling option alongside Bishnoi, Axar Patel and Washington Sundar.
6. Yash Thakur
Yash Thakur completes the list. The Vidarbha fast bowler was not part of India’s Asia Cup 2025 squad but earned selection for the 2026 Asian Games.
The 27-year-old made his T20I debut during India’s tour of Zimbabwe in July 2026, playing two matches and taking four wickets. He was subsequently named as Harshit Rana’s replacement in India’s Asian Games squad.
Thakur brings domestic experience and another pace option to India’s bowling group.
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India’s changing T20 setup
The six names underline how much India’s T20I squad has evolved since the Asia Cup 2025. Some players have returned after being outside the setup, while others are emerging talents receiving their first opportunity on a major stage.
For the Asian Games, India will have a blend of experienced players such as Iyer, Kishan and Bishnoi alongside youngsters including Sooryavanshi and Nigam. The men’s cricket event is scheduled to take place in Japan from September 24 to October 3, 2026.
With India entering the tournament as the defending Asian Games champions, the revamped squad will attract considerable attention. And for the six players who were absent from the 2025 Asia Cup picture, the Asian Games represent very different chapters in their respective journeys.
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