Japan vs Nepal: The Asian Games 2026 Match That Could Decide Group A

By CRIC INFO 365 Staff | September 26, 2026

Quick Answer: Japan vs Nepal is the 5th Match of Group A at the Asian Games 2026 men’s cricket competition, played today, September 26, at Kōrogi Sports Park in Nisshin, Japan. This is the last group match either side plays, and it settles the entire group. Nepal go in on the back of a five wicket win over Afghanistan and need just one more win to finish top. Japan are already out of the running for top spot after their opening loss, but a big enough win here can still send them through in second place and push Afghanistan out. Here is everything worth knowing before the toss.

For the complete schedule, live points table and full tournament coverage, check our Asian Games 2026 Cricket hub, updated after every match.

Japan vs Nepal Match Details at a Glance

Detail	Information
Match	Japan vs Nepal, 5th Match, Group A
Tournament	Asian Games 2026 men’s cricket
Date	September 26, 2026
Venue	Kōrogi Sports Park, Nisshin, Aichi Prefecture, Japan
Start time	9:00 AM local time (5:30 AM IST)
Japan captain	Kendel Kadowaki-Fleming
Nepal captain	Dipendra Singh Airee
Group A standings before this match	Nepal 2 points (1W, 0L), Afghanistan 2 points (1W, 1L), Japan 0 points (0W, 1L)

When and Where Is Japan vs Nepal Being Played?

Every match of the men’s Asian Games 2026 cricket competition is played at the same ground, Kōrogi Sports Park, and Japan vs Nepal is the morning fixture of the day, ahead of the Group B match between Malaysia and Oman later on the same schedule. Japan’s two group matches, against Afghanistan and now Nepal, have both been slotted into the earlier 9:00 AM local start, which suits Japan’s own conditions but gives them little time to shake off an early loss before turning around for the second one.

Region	Local Time	Date
Japan (JST)	9:00 AM	September 26
India (IST)	5:30 AM	September 26
UK (BST)	1:00 AM	September 26
US East Coast (EDT)	8:00 PM (previous day)	September 25
Australia East (AEST)	10:00 AM	September 26

Why Japan vs Nepal Could Decide the Whole of Group A

This is the part most previews will skip, and it is the most interesting thing about this match. Group A only has three teams, Afghanistan, Japan and Nepal, so once Japan vs Nepal is done, every group match has been played and the group is final. There is no fourth game to sort anything out later.

Nepal arrive with two points from their win over Afghanistan. If they beat Japan today, Nepal finish on four points from two matches, an outcome nothing else in the group can catch, and they top Group A outright. Afghanistan, sitting on two points from a win over Japan and a loss to Nepal, would finish second and advance as well, since the top two in Group A move on to the quarterfinals.

The more complicated outcome is a Japan win. If Japan beat Nepal, all three teams finish on two points each, one win and one loss apiece, and the group is then decided entirely by net run rate. Based on the two results so far, Afghanistan’s net run rate sits at roughly plus 0.846 and Nepal’s at roughly plus 0.842, a gap so small it is almost a rounding error. Japan, after being bowled out for 81 against Afghanistan, are sitting at close to minus 2.400.

That last number is the catch for Japan. Winning today does not automatically save them. To leapfrog Afghanistan and Nepal on net run rate, Japan would need to win by such a wide margin, either bowling Nepal out cheaply and chasing fast, or piling up a big total and defending it comfortably, that they close a gap of well over three runs per over swing in a single match. That is a tall order in a 20 over game.

A narrow Japan win could easily still leave them third and out, while nudging Nepal’s net run rate down just enough to hand Afghanistan the group win instead, even though Afghanistan are not playing today at all. For the full picture of how Afghanistan arrived at their current numbers, our Japan vs Afghanistan preview covers that opening match in detail, and our Afghanistan vs Nepal match report and prediction breaks down how Nepal chased down that target.

The stakes stretch beyond just qualifying too. Whichever side finishes top of Group A meets Sri Lanka in the quarterfinal on September 29, while the runner up is drawn against India. That is a real difference in what the rest of the tournament looks like for either Afghanistan or Nepal, and it is being shaped today by a match neither of them is playing in.

Japan’s Team News Ahead of Japan vs Nepal

Japan go into this match already eliminated from top spot contention, but not out of the tournament yet, and that changes the tone of how they will approach it. Kendel Kadowaki-Fleming’s side were held to 81 all out against Afghanistan, with only Reo Sakurano-Thomas managing any real resistance in a knock of 23. The bowling was more competitive, with Shoma Sugaya-Slater picking up two wickets, but 129 was always going to be a stretch after that top order collapse.

The honest read on Japan’s position is that a home crowd and a must-win game can occasionally bring out a different side of a team than the one that showed up in the opener. Batting first and batting deep will matter more than usual here, because Japan cannot afford another innings where the middle order does not fire. If Japan’s top three, built around Kadowaki-Fleming himself along with Ibrahim Takahashi and Declan Suzuki-McComb, can bat through the middle overs rather than losing wickets in clusters the way they did against Afghanistan, the equation around net run rate becomes far less theoretical and far more achievable.

Nepal’s Team News Ahead of Japan vs Nepal

Nepal walk in with genuine momentum. Chasing 103 against Afghanistan, they got home in 17.2 overs for the loss of five wickets, with Sundeep Jora’s 34 doing much of the heavy lifting in a chase that was rarely troubled once the platform was set. That win also confirmed something Nepal’s squad has been building toward all year, that this batting lineup has enough depth and enough recent international volume to get through a low, tricky total without needing a big individual innings to bail them out.

The question for Nepal today is less about form and more about complacency. A side already sitting on two points and needing only one more result to guarantee top spot can sometimes ease off in a way that costs them against a team playing with nothing to lose. Dipendra Singh Airee’s challenge as captain is making sure Nepal treat this like a final rather than a formality, particularly with Sandeep Lamichhane and Karan KC both available to set an early tone with the ball if Japan bat first.

Have Japan and Nepal Played Each Other Before?

Japan and Nepal do not have a long international rivalry, and recent meetings between the two at senior level have been rare, largely because their playing calendars have not overlapped often outside multi-team qualifying events. What is clear from both sides’ recent form lines is the gap in experience against Full Member opposition.

Nepal have spent the last year facing a mix of Full Member and strong Associate sides, including their run through World Cup qualifying, while Japan’s recent international exposure has leaned more heavily on regional Associate opponents, with their one-off T20I against India earlier this month standing out as a rare step up in class. The International Cricket Council confirmed both full squads ahead of the Games, and that gap in recent match toughness is one reason Nepal head into this fixture as favorites on paper, even before a ball is bowled.

Probable Playing XI for Japan vs Nepal

Both squads give a fairly clear picture of how each side is likely to line up, with Japan expected to make at least one change after their batting struggled against Afghanistan, and Nepal naming a full strength side after a winning start. Our Asian Games 2026 schedule and squads guide has the complete squad lists for every team in the competition.

Japan probable XI: Kendel Kadowaki-Fleming (c), Ibrahim Takahashi, Declan Suzuki-McComb, Charlie Hara-Hinze, Alex Shirai-Patmore (wk), Reo Sakurano-Thomas, Benjamin Ito-Davis, Shoma Sugaya-Slater, Jake Kusuda-Nairn, Makoto Taniyama, Tsuyoshi Takada

Nepal probable XI: Kushal Bhurtel, Aasif Sheikh (wk), Rohit Kumar Paudel, Dipendra Singh Airee (c), Sundeep Jora, Kushal Malla, Sompal Kami, Gulsan Kumar Jha, Karan KC, Sandeep Lamichhane, Lalit Rajbanshi

Japan’s biggest selection question is whether to protect their top order by promoting a more settled batter above Reo Sakurano-Thomas, given he was the only player to get truly set against Afghanistan. Makoto Taniyama, Japan’s leading wicket taker across recent cricket, is likely to be trusted with a bigger role today given the margin for error in the bowling attack is thin.

Nepal’s team picks itself in large part after the win over Afghanistan, and Sundeep Jora’s form means he is unlikely to make way even though he was not part of some of Nepal’s earlier squad lists for this tournament. The middle order of Kushal Malla, Sompal Kami and Gulsan Kumar Jha gives Nepal genuine batting depth right down to number eight, which matters against a Japan attack still finding its feet at this level.

Key Players to Watch in Japan vs Nepal

Team	Player	Recent Form
Japan	Kendel Kadowaki-Fleming	151 runs across his last 10 T20I innings at an average near 18.9 and a strike rate above 90, Japan’s most experienced batter and captain
Japan	Alex Shirai-Patmore	101 runs in his last 10 innings, one of the steadier hands in a fragile Japan top order
Japan	Makoto Taniyama	Japan’s leading wicket taker across international and pathway cricket, the man most likely to strike early with the new ball
Nepal	Kushal Bhurtel	489 runs across his last 10 matches at an average above 54 and a strike rate near 187, arguably the most dangerous batter left in the group stage
Nepal	Dipendra Singh Airee	235 runs in his last 10 innings at an average above 58, and the calmest finisher in Nepal’s lineup
Nepal	Sandeep Lamichhane	Nepal’s premier wicket taking option, capable of turning a game in three or four overs against a batting lineup still adjusting to Full Member level spin

Kushal Bhurtel is the single biggest reason Nepal are favorites here. A strike rate close to 187 over his last ten innings means Japan’s bowlers cannot afford to give him width early, and if he gets going, Nepal’s chase or defense becomes a formality rather than a contest.

Pitch Report and Conditions at Kōrogi Sports Park

The two matches already played at this venue tell a consistent story. Japan were held under six an over for a long stretch against Afghanistan before being bowled out for 81, and Afghanistan themselves were restricted to 102 for 7 against Nepal, a total that never felt safe even though it looked competitive on paper. Both results point to a surface that rewards bowlers who hit good areas and punishes batters who try to force the pace too early.

Match Reference	What It Suggests
Japan 81 all out vs Afghanistan	New venue still settling, assists seam bowling with the new ball
Afghanistan 102/7 vs Nepal, chased down	Total in the 100 to 110 range is gettable but not automatic
Both matches played in the morning slot	Morning dew and cooler air appear to be giving early bowlers some help

Given both previous totals at this ground have sat below 130, expect another contest where 130 to 140 is a strong score rather than a par one, and where spin through the middle overs, from either Sandeep Lamichhane or Japan’s own Makoto Taniyama, plays a bigger role than raw pace.

Fantasy Cricket and Dream11 Tips for Japan vs Nepal

• Captain pick: Kushal Bhurtel, the form batter left in the group stage and the player most likely to post a match winning score.
• Vice captain pick: Sandeep Lamichhane, given the surface has already shown it helps spin and Nepal will want early wickets to shut down Japan’s top order.
• Value pick: Makoto Taniyama, likely to come at a lower price point than his wicket taking record deserves.
• Differential pick: Kendel Kadowaki-Fleming, a genuine punt given Japan’s must-win situation could bring out a more aggressive innings from their captain than his season average suggests.

With totals at this venue running low so far, bowlers who can control an over rather than big name batters chasing boundaries look like better value again today. A Nepal top order that has already shown it can chase under pressure is also a safer captaincy base than a Japan lineup still searching for its first fifty partnership of the tournament.

Toss Prediction for Japan vs Nepal

Both previous matches at this ground have gone to the side defending a total in the 100 to 130 range, so expect either captain winning the toss to bowl first and chase, looking to use the same morning conditions that troubled batters in the tournament’s opening matches.

Weather

Late September mornings in Aichi Prefecture are typically mild and dry, with no significant rain expected around the 9:00 AM local start. Conditions should stay comfortable for a full 20 overs a side with no weather interruption anticipated for Japan vs Nepal.

Who Is Favored to Win Japan vs Nepal?

Factor	Advantage
Overall squad quality	Nepal, with far more depth across both batting and bowling
Recent individual form	Nepal, led by Kushal Bhurtel’s strike rate near 187
Motivation	Even, Nepal want top spot and Japan are playing to save their tournament
Bowling threat	Nepal, with Sandeep Lamichhane the standout spinner on either side

Overall verdict: Nepal go into Japan vs Nepal as clear favorites given their batting depth, their bowling options, and the confidence of already having chased down a target at this ground. Japan’s best route to victory is early wickets with the new ball and a low total to defend, similar to how Afghanistan’s bowlers troubled Nepal briefly before the chase settled down. Expect Nepal to get over the line, though do not be surprised if Japan’s bowlers make them work harder than the group table currently suggests they should.

Where to Watch Japan vs Nepal

Region	Broadcast
India	Check official Asian Games broadcast partners closer to the match
Japan and Nepal	Regional broadcast partners and national cricket association channels
Rest of world	Olympic Council of Asia and regional streaming platforms

For live ball by ball coverage, ESPNcricinfo’s scorecard for Japan vs Nepal tracks the match as it happens. Once Group A wraps up here, attention shifts fast toward the knockouts and beyond, including Afghanistan’s next assignment, which our Afghanistan vs Bangladesh UAE 2026 schedule guide covers in full. Elsewhere in the tournament, our Hong Kong vs Oman preview covers a Group B race that is just as tight as this one.

FAQs About Japan vs Nepal

Final Word

Japan vs Nepal looks lopsided on paper, and in most respects it is, Nepal have the batting, the bowling and the recent form to be clear favorites. What makes this match worth following closely is that its outcome reaches beyond the two teams playing it. A comfortable Nepal win settles Group A cleanly. A tight Japan win, or a Japan win that is not quite big enough, could still hand the group to Afghanistan on net run rate without Afghanistan lifting a finger today. Watch the margin as closely as the result, because in this group, the margin might matter more.

For updated standings once this match is done, check the Asian Games 2026 Cricket hub.

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