Asian Games 2026: 'The pitch is going to be uncertain' - Sunil Gavaskar warns India

India's men's cricket team will begin their Asian Games 2026 campaign on September 28 at Kōrogi Sports Park. The team are defending champions, having clinched gold in the previous Asian Games edition held in 2023. The cricket tournament at the 2026 Asian Games runs from September 17 to October 3, 2026.

Legendary cricketer Sunil Gavaskar has highlighted specific concerns about the playing conditions that India will face during their campaign. Writing in his Mid-Day column, Gavaskar drew attention to the nature of the pitch and outfield at the venue where India will compete, noting that the team's recent performance against Japan should keep them prepared for the challenges ahead.

"The game against Japan was a good pinch for the Indian team, where they were one good strike away from being beaten. That should keep them in fine fettle when they begin their campaign (Asian Games). They will have to be a bit watchful as the pitch is going to be uncertain, and the outfield with its softness is something where the sliding stop can be a bit of a concern too," Gavaskar wrote in his column Mid-Day.

The outfield conditions present a particular challenge for fielders attempting to make diving stops. The softness of the ground could affect the execution of fielding techniques that are standard in modern cricket. Gavaskar's assessment suggests that India will need to adapt their approach to these specific venue characteristics.

Gavaskar warns next selection chief

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Gavaskar warns next selection chief

Pressure from women's team's gold medal success

Gavaskar also reflected on the pressure facing India's men's team following the women's cricket team's success at the Asian Games. The women's side had won gold at the tournament after their victories in the Asia Cup, setting a benchmark for the men to match.

"The women’s cricket team brought the first gold and their wins in the Asia Cup, and now the gold at the Asian Games has put some pressure on the men’s team to emulate them in getting the gold. There are also moments when a medal is lost by the merest of margins, and the tears of the athlete are also the tears of the entire nation’s sporting community." Gavaskar wrote.

Challenges facing the incoming selection committee chairman

Beyond the immediate Asian Games challenge, Gavaskar offered perspective on the pressures facing the incoming selection committee chairman as Ajit Agarkar's tenure comes to an end. The role carries significant responsibility and public scrutiny that extends far beyond the technical aspects of team selection.

"There is, of course, the honour of being the Chairman of the national selection committee, but it also comes with a target mark on the back. Like with umpiring, wicketkeeping and now, commentary, the nine good things that have been done will be forgotten and the one so-called error will be magnified a hundred times and discussed over and over again," Gavaskar wrote.

"The thing that most people tend not to be aware of is that many decisions could be forced on the Chairman by the other selectors, but since he has to front the media, he is the one who gets the blame. So, the mischief-makers could be the other selectors, but it’s the Chairman who is singled out for criticism," he added.