PT Usha Inspires Indian Men's Cricket Team Ahead of 2026 Asian Games
PT Usha Meets Indian Men's Cricket Team
The President of the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) and former Olympian, PT Usha, recently met with the Indian men's cricket team, sharing her admiration for their commitment and enthusiasm as they prepare for the 2026 Asian Games. Usha expressed her feelings through social media, calling the meeting "Very Very Special" and emphasizing how the players' dedication reminded her of the significance of sports.
"It was an incredible experience meeting the Men's Indian cricket team today! I had a delightful interaction with all the players. Witnessing their dedication, humility, and passion firsthand reinforces the cherished place sports hold in our lives," Usha posted on X.
It was Very Very Special, meeting the Men's Indian cricket team today! Had a wonderful interaction with everyone. Seeing their dedication, humility and passion firsthand, reminds me why sports hold such a sacred place in our hearts. #JeetHamariHai pic.twitter.com/7KhfM47r9R — P.T. USHA (@PTUshaOfficial) September 28, 2026
She conveyed her heartfelt wishes to the players for their upcoming campaign at the Asian Games, stating, "My heart is filled with immense pride and endless blessings for each one of them, and I wish them all the very best for their journey at the @AsianGames_2026."
India's Asian Games Campaign
The Indian men's cricket team is gearing up to represent the nation at the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, where cricket is included in the competition lineup. Their quarter-final match against Afghanistan is set for Monday, September 28, starting at 10:30 AM IST.
Indian Men's Cricket Squad
The squad comprises several prominent international players, with T20 captain Iyer at the helm. The team includes Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson (WK), Ishan Kishan (WK), Shivam Dube, Tilak Varma (VC), Nitish Kumar Reddy, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Varun Chakaravarthy, Ravi Bishnoi, Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, and Yash Thakur.
VVS Laxman, a former Indian cricketer, is serving as the interim head coach for this Asian Games campaign.
India aims to defend the gold medal they secured in Hangzhou in 2023, where they triumphed over Afghanistan after the final was interrupted by rain, leading to the higher-seeded Indian team being awarded the title. The previous team was captained by Ruturaj Gaikwad.
In a related achievement, India's women's cricket team successfully defended their title at the Games, defeating Sri Lanka by 147 runs under the leadership of Harmanpreet Kaur, marking the country's first gold medal at the 2026 Games.
The men's team is now poised to emulate this success, bolstered by a strong lineup featuring numerous players with international experience. Iyer, who has previously led Kolkata Knight Riders to an IPL championship and captained Punjab Kings to the IPL final in 2025, is eager to add an Asian Games gold medal to his accolades as India embarks on their knockout journey against Afghanistan.