India finally opened their gold medal account at the 2026 Asian Games on Tuesday, with Harmanpreet Kaur’s side beating Sri Lanka by 147 runs to retain the women’s cricket title. On the same day, Sachin Tendulkar reflected on Japan’s growing interest in the sport, praising the simple efforts being made to help local spectators understand cricket after a memorable day involving India and Japan.
India dominated the women’s final at Korogi Sports Park, making 216/3 before bowling Sri Lanka out for 69. Smriti Mandhana led the scoring with 79 off 45 balls, Shafali Verma made 48 and Richa Ghosh finished unbeaten on 49 off 22 as India secured back-to-back Asian Games gold medals.
Japan vs India, one-off T20I: Scorecard | Highlights
Tendulkar’s post on X focused on the men’s India-Japan T20I in Sano, where spectators were given cricket reckoners at the entrance. The illustrated guides explained the basic rules of the game, giving fans who were still getting familiar with cricket an easier way to follow the match.
“There’s something very special about watching cricket find new homes,” Tendulkar wrote.
“Seeing India play Japan is wonderful in itself, but what made me smile was seeing reckoners being given to the audience at the entrance so they could understand the game better.”
JAPAN’S FIRST CRICKET STEPS
Japan’s women’s team had already begun their Asian Games campaign against India on September 18, in their first appearance at the Games. India bowled them out for 57 before chasing the target in only five overs to win by eight wickets.
Japan’s men’s Asian Games campaign, meanwhile, is yet to begin. Their meeting with India in Sano was a separate one-off T20I, giving the hosts a chance to take on one of cricket’s biggest teams before their men’s competition at the Games gets underway.
The match was reduced to five overs per side following rain, but Japan gave India a serious scare. India’s batters struggled against the hosts’ disciplined bowling and were restricted to 32/4, with Shreyas Iyer making 16. Japan then needed eight runs from the final over but could manage only five, leaving India with a narrow two-run victory.
The result was particularly encouraging for Japan, who had pushed India deep into the contest despite the huge difference in experience between the two sides.
“We’ve all had our first cricket match. It’s lovely to see more people getting theirs,” Tendulkar added.
He also acknowledged the Japanese side for embracing the challenge.
“Credit to the Japan team for taking on the challenge and putting up a fight,” he wrote.
INDIA COMPLETE GOLD DEFENCE
India’s women’s team had been impressive throughout their Asian Games campaign. Shafali hit an unbeaten century in the semi-final against Bangladesh, setting up another final against Sri Lanka, the same opponents India defeated in the 2023 Hangzhou final.
Mandhana and Shafali then gave India a strong start in the title clash, adding 99 for the first wicket. Mandhana’s 79 took her past 11,000 international runs, while Richa’s late assault pushed India to 216/3.
Sri Lanka never found their footing in the chase. Deepti Sharma claimed three wickets as India’s bowlers kept taking breakthroughs, eventually dismissing Sri Lanka for 69.
The 147-run victory gave Harmanpreet’s side India’s first gold medal of the Nagoya Games and another women’s cricket title. For Japan, meanwhile, the India games offered two very different results, but both provided valuable exposure as the country continues to build its cricketing base.
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