Why Is Indian Cricket Team Wearing Different Jersey in Asian Games 2026?
The Indian men's and women's cricket teams are sporting a distinct white and sky-blue primary jersey at the Asian Games 2026 in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, a notable shift from their traditional blue.
The 'Men in Blue' and 'Women in Blue' have temporarily shed their familiar indigo hues, with the Indian cricket teams adopting a striking new white and sky-blue primary kit for their highly anticipated campaign at the 20th Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan. The fresh look, which also includes an orangish-red alternate jersey, marks a notable departure from the iconic blue dominant in bilateral series and ICC tournaments. The 20th Asian Games officially commenced on September 19, 2026, and will run until October 4, 2026. IND vs JPN, Women's Asian Games 2026 Quarterfinal Toss Report and Playing XIs: India Opt To Bowl, Shreyanka Patil Returns From Injury.
Currently, as of Friday, September 18, 2026, the Indian women's team is already in action, having commenced their quest for a second consecutive Asian Games gold medal. The men's team is set to begin their campaign next week, both aiming to build on their historic double gold at the 2023 Hangzhou Games.
A Distinct Identity for a Multi-Sport Spectacle
The most striking aspect of the new attire is the primary kit's colour scheme: a predominantly white body, complemented by sky-blue sleeves, socks, and shorts. This change signifies a deliberate choice for the Asian Games, a multi-sport event where national federations often align with the broader national Olympic committee's branding guidelines or choose a distinct kit to represent the larger national contingent, rather than solely their sport's specific identity. While the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has Adidas as its official kit sponsor until March 2028, covering all formats, the Asian Games may necessitate specific design parameters different from ICC-sanctioned events or bilateral series. Furthermore, the inclusion of an orangish-red alternate jersey follows the International Cricket Council's (ICC) rule, often requiring teams to have two distinct kits for televised events to avoid colour clashes with opponents.
India's Campaign in Aichi-Nagoya
Cricket at the Asian Games 2026 is being played in the T20 format at the Kōrogi Sports Park in Nisshin, Aichi Prefecture. The women's tournament runs from September 17 to September 22, while the men's competition is scheduled from September 24 to October 3.
The Indian women's cricket team, led by Harmanpreet Kaur, is already defending its gold medal, having played their quarter-final match today, September 18, 2026, against hosts Japan. Should they advance, their semi-final match is slated for Sunday, September 20.
For the men's competition, India, along with Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh, has received a direct entry into the quarter-finals based on their ICC rankings. Shreyas Iyer leads the Men in Blue, who will begin their campaign on Monday, September 28, 2026, in the second quarter-final. Their opponent will be the second-placed team from Group A, which includes Afghanistan, Japan, and Nepal. The match was scheduled to start at 10:00 AM IST (1:30 PM local time). India vs Japan, Live Streaming and Free Telecast of Women’s Asian Games 2026 Cricket Match in India
Indian Men's Cricket Team Squad for Asian Games 2026:
- Captain: Shreyas Iyer
- Vice-Captain: Tilak Varma
- Wicketkeepers: Sanju Samson, Ishan Kishan
- Players: Abhishek Sharma, Shivam Dube, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Varun Chakaravarthy, Ravi Bishnoi, Jasprit Bumrah, Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi
- Reserves: Rasikh Salam, Kartik Tyagi, Vicky Ostwal
Indian Women's Cricket Team Squad for Asian Games 2026:
- Captain: Harmanpreet Kaur
- Vice-Captain: Smriti Mandhana
- Players: Shafali Verma, Pratika Rawal, Deepti Sharma, Richa Ghosh (WK), G. Kamalini (WK), Bharti Fulmali, Sree Charani, Renuka Thakur, Kranti Gaud, Arundhati Reddy, Shreyanka Patil, Radha Yadav, Nandni Sharma
The shift in jersey colour for this prestigious continental event underscores the unique nature of multi-sport gatherings and the emphasis on national contingent representation, as India aims for double gold in cricket at the Asian Games 2026.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 18, 2026 11:09 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
