Shreyas Iyer was on Saturday named captain of India's 15-member squad for the 2026 Asian Games in Japan, with pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah and teenage batting sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi among the notable inclusions in a side blending established stars and emerging talent.The squad, announced by the BCCI, will be led by Iyer, while Tilak Varma has been appointed vice-captain. The selection marks another major milestone in Sooryavanshi's meteoric rise, with the 15-year-old earning a place alongside some of India's leading white-ball performers.Also read: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi makes history with India selection, surpasses Sachin TendulkarBumrah's inclusion lends considerable experience to the side, which also features T20 regulars Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson, Ishan Kishan, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Varun Chakravarthy and Ravi Bishnoi.The men's cricket competition at the Asian Games will be played in the T20 format.— BCCI (@BCCI) Sooryavanshi's dream run continuesAmong the biggest talking points of the squad announcement was the selection of Sooryavanshi, who has rapidly emerged as one of Indian cricket's most exciting young talents.At 15 years and 71 days old, the left-hander becomes the youngest player ever selected for an Indian team, eclipsing the long-standing record held by Sachin Tendulkar.His inclusion comes after a sensational 2026 season in which he finished as the leading run-scorer, amassing 776 runs, including a century and five half-centuries, at a staggering strike rate of 237.30.Iyer rewarded with leadership roleIyer's appointment as captain reflects the selectors' faith in his leadership credentials and consistent performances over the past two seasons.The Mumbai batter has strengthened his reputation as a leader in franchise cricket, guiding Kolkata Knight Riders to the IPL title in 2024 before leading Punjab Kings to the final in 2025.The Asian Games assignment also places him at the forefront of India's next white-ball cycle after the team's successful T20 World Cup 2026 campaign.Also read: Dropped by BCCI, backed by performances: Shreyas Iyer gets India's T20 captaincyFull India squad for Asian Games 2026Shreyas Iyer (captain)Abhishek SharmaSanju Samson (wicketkeeper)Ishan Kishan (wicketkeeper)Shivam DubeTilak Varma (vice-captain)Nitish Kumar ReddyAxar PatelWashington SundarVarun ChakravarthyRavi BishnoiJasprit BumrahHarshit RanaArshdeep SinghVaibhav SooryavanshiThe BCCI also announced squads for India's upcoming T20 assignments in Ireland and England, as well as the multi-day tour of Sri Lanka.For the Ireland and England T20Is, pacer Prince Yadav received a call-up after impressive performances in domestic and franchise cricket. India will play two T20Is in Ireland on June 26 and 28 before travelling to England for a five-match T20I series from July 1 to 11.India squad for Ireland and England T20Is: Shreyas Iyer (captain), Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson, Ishan Kishan, Shivam Dube, Tilak Varma (vice-captain), Nitish Kumar Reddy, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Varun Chakravarthy, Ravi Bishnoi, Mohammad Siraj, Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh, Prince Yadav and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi.India squad for multi-day matches in Sri Lanka: Dhruv Jurel (captain & wicketkeeper), Sai Sudharsan, Devdutt Padikkal (vice-captain), Ruturaj Gaikwad, Harsh, Saransh, Gurnoor Brar, Auqib Nabi, Yash Thakur, N Jagadeesan, Aman Mokade, Sheikh Rashid and Ansari.
India announces cricket squad for Asian Games: Shreyas Iyer to lead team in Japan, Bumrah back in action; Here's the full squad
Shreyas Iyer will captain India's 15-member squad for the 2026 Asian Games in Japan, with Jasprit Bumrah and 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi also included. Sooryavanshi, the youngest ever Indian player, earned his spot after a stellar domestic season. The T20 squad blends experienced players with emerging talent.













