India women's team chase Japan's target in just 30 balls at 2026 Asian Games

India's women's cricket team made a strong start to their 2026 Asian Games title defense, thrashing hosts Japan by eight wickets at the quarterfinal in Nisshin on Friday. The Japanese team, playing in front of their home crowd, collapsed to a mere 57 runs in just 19.5 overs after India's captain Harmanpreet Kaur chose to field. Left-arm spinner Shree Charani was the star of the show with an impressive T20 bowling performance, claiming 4-10 and two maiden overs.

Shafali Verma contributed with 2-13. Opener Ayaka Kato-Stafford top-scored for Japan with 25, but she managed only three boundaries throughout the innings. India's bowlers maintained the pressure, with Japan losing wickets regularly after the sixth over. The Indian team reached their target of 59 in just 30 balls, with Shafali smashing an unbeaten 40 off 15 balls, including six fours and two sixes.

Richa Ghosh added 12 runs off just six balls. The disparity between the teams also highlights the varying stages of cricket development in the two countries. Many of Japan's players balance cricket with education or full-time careers, as the national program operates on a part-time basis. Japan boasts only 14 cricket clubs across the nation.

India, the defending Asian Games champions, will face Bangladesh in the semifinal on September 20, a rematch of last week's Women's Asia Cup semifinal clash. India aims to win back the title they won at the 2022 Hangzhou Games, which took place in 2023 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.