Nisshin, September 27, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
India captain Shreyas Iyer said persistent rain and limited training will not be used as excuses as the team prepares for its Asian Games men’s T20 quarter-final against Afghanistan at Korogi Sports Park on Monday.
Heavy rain is forecast in Nisshin, raising the possibility of the match being washed out. In that scenario, India would advance to the semi-finals by virtue of their higher ICC T20I ranking.
The threat of a washout is significant, with the venue already witnessing the abandonment of its previous two scheduled matches on Friday. A similar situation occurred in the 2023 Asian Games final between India and Afghanistan, which was washed out due to persistent rain, with India awarded the gold medal on the basis of their superior ranking.
“Yes, rain is there, but that is the reason we can’t give up because we have decided that we are a bunch of professionals and all these hurdles will keep coming. We have to be prepared mentally irrespective of whatever the situation is going to be,” Iyer said at a press conference on Sunday.
He added that India had managed to get some warm-up and knocking practice despite the weather and would look to adapt to the wicket.
“The primary importance is to come and play the match,” Iyer said, stressing that the team’s focus remained on taking the field rather than worrying about the forecast.
India’s preparation was disrupted by torrential rain on Sunday, but the players attempted to make the most of the available opportunities. While batters got some time for knocking practice on the turf, the bowlers also bowled in the outfield.
Iyer urged his teammates to embrace the challenging conditions and remain positive, saying the squad should maximise every opportunity available during the tournament.
Afghanistan have yet to defeat India in a T20I, having come close during the dramatic double Super Over contest in Bengaluru in 2024 before losing the subsequent three-match series in New Delhi 3-0.
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