The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has reportedly named Mayank Yadav, Kartik Tyagi and Mohsin Khan as net bowlers for India’s Asian Games 2026 campaign in Japan. The move came after head coach VVS Laxman requested additional bowling options during the team’s preparations for the continental tournament.
The three pacers are expected to travel to Japan with the Indian contingent, which is scheduled to leave Delhi on September 20. However, they will not be part of the official squad and are expected to remain with the team only until India’s opening men’s match on September 28. Their travel will also depend on the BCCI securing Japanese visas before the team’s departure.
Mayank Yadav, who represents Lucknow Super Giants in the Indian Premier League, has already featured for India in T20Is. The express pacer has played six T20I matches and picked up nine wickets at an average of 17.22. His best figures for India are 3/29. Yadav was recently left out of the T20I squad following India’s tour of Zimbabwe.
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Kartik Tyagi, meanwhile, plays for Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL. He had a productive 2026 season, claiming 18 wickets in 14 matches at an average of 27.66 while maintaining an economy rate below 10 runs per over. Despite his performances, Tyagi is yet to receive his maiden T20I call-up for India.
Mohsin Khan, another Lucknow Super Giants pacer, also impressed during IPL 2026. He picked up 11 wickets in seven matches at an average of 20.73 and produced a memorable five-wicket haul against Kolkata Knight Riders. Like Tyagi, Mohsin has yet to make his T20I debut for India.
India won the men’s gold medal at the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou under Ruturaj Gaikwad’s captaincy. However, several leading teams sent second-string squads because the tournament coincided with preparations for the 2023 ODI World Cup.
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The situation is different this time, with several nations expected to field stronger teams in Japan. India enter the Asian Games 2026 campaign as one of the favourites after winning the 2025 Asia Cup and the T20 World Cup earlier this year. Despite recent changes to the squad, the Men in Blue will be aiming to defend their gold medal in Japan.
