Asian Games women's cricket: Defending champions India begin title defence against Japan

Fresh from their record-extending Asia Cup triumph, defending champions India will begin their Asian Games title defence against hosts Japan in the women’s quarterfinals on Friday.

India head into the tournament after winning their eighth T20 Asia Cup in Dubai last week, but the knockout format leaves little room for error.

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Eight teams are competing in the women’s event, which begins directly with the quarterfinals, with no group stage. A defeat will end a team’s campaign.

Shafali Verma will be one of India’s key batters after an impressive Asia Cup in which she was the tournament’s highest scorer.

Experienced all-rounder Deepti Sharma and left-arm spinner Sree Charani are expected to play important roles in India’s bowling attack.

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Charani was among India’s leading performers in the Asia Cup and reached 50 T20I wickets in her 30th appearance. The 22-year-old’s ability to control the middle overs could be important in the knockout format.

Captain Harmanpreet Kaur will also look for an improved performance after a subdued Asia Cup. Her experience in pressure situations could be valuable in a tournament where every match is effectively a must-win.

Japan, playing on home soil, will face a difficult task against the defending champions. The hosts will need to cope with India’s spin attack and aggressive top order while building partnerships with the bat.