Quick Answer
India Women beat Japan Women by 8 wickets in the Asian Games 2026 cricket quarter-final, played on 18 September 2026 in Nisshin, Japan. Japan Women were bowled out for 57 in 20 overs, while India Women chased the target down for 59/2 in just 5 overs. This win sent India through to the semi-finals.
In the recent Japan vs India Women’s Cricket match at the Asian Games 2026, India Women delivered a dominant performance to secure an 8-wicket victory over host nation Japan and advance to the semi-finals.
Match Overview
Cricket fans got a one-sided but exciting contest when India Women faced host nation Japan Women at the Korogi Athletic Park. India cruised into the semi-finals after comfortably beating hosts Japan by eight wickets. The tournament follows a straight knockout format from the quarter-final stage onward, so this was a must-win game for both sides.
India Women came into this match as the team to beat. They are the World No. 3 side and the defending champions, having won gold at the previous Asian Games in Hangzhou 2023. Japan, on the other hand, were the underdogs. The hosts sit 39th in the world women’s T20I rankings, so a win over India was always going to be a tough ask.
How Japan’s Innings Went
India won the toss and chose to field first, which turned out to be the right call. India bowled Japan out for a paltry 57 runs, with spinner Shree Charani grabbing four wickets.
Japan didn’t start badly. Openers Haruna Iwasaki and Ayaka Kato-Stafford began carefully, avoiding risky shots, and the pair put together a 24-run partnership before things fell apart. That’s when Shree Charani struck twice in one over, and the Japan innings never recovered. Ayaka Kato-Stafford top-scored for Japan with 25 runs.
A total of 57 was always going to be tough to defend against a team as strong as India, and so it proved.
How India Chased It Down
Batting was almost a formality after such a low target, and India’s approach reflected that. Shafali Verma smashed an unbeaten 40 off just 15 balls as India chased down Japan’s target in only five overs. It was an aggressive, no-fear knock that finished the match almost before it began.
Chasing 58 to win, India reached the mark with plenty of overs to spare, closing on 59 for the loss of 2 wickets. Match reports also note the game’s lopsided nature, adding extra context around the fireworks Verma provided at the top of the order.
Playing XIs
India Women
Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma, Gunalan Kamalini, Harmanpreet Kaur (captain), Bharti Fulmali, Richa Ghosh (wicketkeeper), Deepti Sharma, Shree Charani, Shreyanka Patil, Kranti Gaud, Nandani Sharma.
Japan Women
Haruna Iwasaki, Akari Nishimura Kano (wicketkeeper), Mai Yanagida (captain), Erika Oda, Ahilya Chandel, Shimako Kato, Ayaka Kato-Stafford, Ayumi Fujikawa, and other squad members.
It’s also worth noting that India’s line-up features one of the greatest names in the women’s game. Smriti Mandhana heads into this tournament as the highest run-scorer in the history of women’s international cricket across all formats, having surpassed Mithali Raj during the Asia Cup, and she also holds the record for the most international centuries across formats.
Player Highlights
- Shree Charani (India): Took 4 wickets, the standout bowling performance of the match.
- Shafali Verma (India): Unbeaten 40 off 15 balls, sealing the win in style.
- Ayaka Kato-Stafford (Japan): Top scorer for the hosts with 25 runs.
Small nations like Japan don’t often get the chance to test themselves against a giant like India, so even in defeat, this match was valuable experience for their squad.
Why This Match Matters
Cricket is a growing sport in East Asia, and Japan hosting an Asian Games cricket event is itself a big step forward for the game there. For India, the win keeps their gold medal defence alive and shows once again why they’re one of the top women’s teams in world cricket.
Matches like this also matter for fans who follow both cricket and the Olympics-style multi-sport events, since Asian Games cricket doesn’t get the same daily TV coverage as bilateral series or major ICC tournaments.
FAQ: Japan vs India Women’s Cricket
Who won the Japan vs India women’s cricket match?
India Women won by 8 wickets.
What was the final score?
Japan Women scored 57 all out in 20 overs; India Women chased it down with 59/2 in 5 overs.
Where was the match played?
At Korogi Athletic Park in Nisshin, Japan.
When was the match played?
On 18 September 2026, as part of the Asian Games 2026 cricket quarter-finals.
Who was the star performer?
Shree Charani for her bowling (4 wickets) and Shafali Verma for her batting (40 not out off 15 balls).
What happens next for India?
India Women advance to the semi-finals of the Asian Games 2026 women’s cricket competition as defending champions.
Is Japan out of the tournament now?
Yes, since the competition is a straight knockout from the quarter-final stage, Japan’s campaign ends here.
