The Indian men’s cricket team has encountered a logistical issue ahead of its departure for the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, with some players reportedly still waiting for correctly sized kits.
The team, led by Shreyas Iyer, is scheduled to leave India in the early hours of Sunday for Japan. However, a few members of the contingent are yet to receive replacement kits following sizing issues involving the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and JSW Inspire, the kit supplier associated with the Indian Olympic Association (IOA).
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According to a PTI report, most of the sizing problems have already been resolved, while the remaining replacement kits are expected to be delivered shortly. An IOA source said the issue arose partly because India’s players require two different sets of jerseys during the Asian Games trip.
India are scheduled to play a one-off T20I against Japan on September 22, before the Asian Games cricket competition begins on September 28. The team will therefore use its regular playing kit for the bilateral fixture and switch to the official Asian Games jersey for the tournament.
The kit issue comes alongside a separate accommodation decision involving the men’s cricket team. According to the PTI report, the BCCI has arranged separate hotel accommodation for the men’s contingent instead of using the facilities allocated through the IOA.
The decision reportedly followed concerns over the suitability of the accommodation originally assigned to the players. A source cited in the report said there was insufficient space in the rooms to store the large kit bags used by the cricketers.
The BCCI subsequently made its own arrangements for the team in Japan. The women’s cricket team, meanwhile, is continuing to stay at accommodation arranged through the IOA.
The logistical concerns come as India’s cricket contingent prepares for its return to the Asian Games. The men’s team will have to manage both its preliminary fixture against Japan and the subsequent tournament schedule, while adapting to the facilities available in Nagoya.
There have also been questions about the cricket facilities in the host city, including the playing surface. These considerations add another logistical layer for the team and support staff as they prepare for the competition.
The men’s cricket team is among India’s prominent sporting contingents at the Asian Games, and the tournament will require coordination between the players, BCCI officials, IOA representatives and local organisers.
For now, the kit sizing problem appears to be largely resolved, with the remaining replacements expected to reach the players before their departure. The accommodation issue has also been addressed through the BCCI’s separate arrangements.
India’s immediate focus will now shift to the journey to Japan and the September 22 T20I against the hosts. The team will then turn its attention to the Asian Games tournament, where the official competition kit will come into use from September 28.
The developments underline the logistical challenges that can accompany large multi-sport events, where teams have to coordinate equipment, accommodation and sporting facilities across different organisations and venues.
