Three Net Bowlers Join India’s Japan Squad Ahead of Asian Games

India’s national selectors have added three experienced bowlers to the Japan‑bound squad as net bowlers, bolstering the team’s practice sessions ahead of the Asian Games and a bilateral T20I against Japan.

Net Bowlers Added to Japan Squad

Former Jammu & Kashmir pacer Rasikh Salam Dar, Maharashtra’s Vicky Ostwal and Uttar Pradesh’s Kartik Tyagi, all of whom play for IPL franchises, were named as unofficial members of the Shreyas Iyer‑led side. The trio departed New Delhi for Tokyo on the night of Saturday, September 19, and will support the main squad during training.

Training Schedule in Japan

India’s camp in Sano will begin with a practice session on September 21 at the Sano International Stadium, followed by a match against the host side the next day. After the T20I, the team will remain in Sano for a few more days before heading to Nagoya, where the Asian Games cricket tournament starts on September 28.

With the withdrawal of Nitish Kumar Reddy from the Asian Games squad and his addition to the ODI side for the West Indies series, the core team now consists of 14 players. The net bowlers will be crucial for the side’s daily drills and warm‑ups during the Sano stint.

ODI Series Against West Indies

Meanwhile, the 15‑man ODI squad, captained by Shubman Gill, has been instructed to assemble in Trivandrum on September 23. The first of the three ODIs will be played on September 27, followed by matches in Guwahati on September 30 and New Chandigarh on October 3.

After the ODI series, India will shift focus to a five‑match T20I series that kicks off in Lucknow on October 6. The net bowlers’ presence in Japan is expected to provide the main squad with additional bowling options during practice, helping the team fine‑tune its strategies for the upcoming tournaments.