India Cricket Kits Reportedly Face Asian Games Delay

Reports of sizing and delivery concerns around India’s cricket kits have added an unexpected wrinkle to the build-up for the Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya. With both the men’s and women’s teams preparing to defend their titles, the issue quickly drew attention because it came just as the squads were scheduled to leave for Japan.

The men’s team, led by Shreyas Iyer, was set to depart New Delhi early on Sunday, September 20, 2026, but reports suggested some players were still waiting for correctly sized official kits. That created a round of communication between the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), the Indian Olympic Association (IOA), and JSW Inspire, the IOA’s official kit supplier.

What happened with the kits?

According to the reports, most of the sizing concerns had been addressed by the time the team was due to travel. Even so, a few players were still said to be without their kits, leaving questions over how smoothly the final preparations had gone.

The timing made the matter more significant. India’s men were scheduled to wear a standard kit for a bilateral T20 match against Japan on September 22 before shifting to the official Asian Games jersey for competition starting September 28. That meant the teams were moving through different kit requirements in a short window, which only amplified the scrutiny.

Why the issue mattered

At a major multi-sport event like the Asian Games, kit preparation is not just about appearance. It reflects logistics, coordination, and the readiness of the sporting setup around the athletes.

When an India squad travels to defend gold-medal status, even a minor supply issue becomes a talking point. The concern was not about on-field ability, but about whether the off-field processes were aligned well enough to support a high-profile campaign.

JSW Inspire responds to the reports

JSW Inspire pushed back strongly against the suggestion that the teams had not received their kits on time. In a statement quoted by Hindustan Times, the company said the men’s and women’s cricket teams had already been handed their performance kits through their respective managers well before departure.

The statement said the managers had confirmed the kits were in proper order and that there were no outstanding issues. JSW Inspire also said the men’s team would wear its kit when travelling from Tokyo to Nagoya on September 26.

“More specifically, the kit for both the men’s & women’s cricket teams have been handed over to the respective managers well in advance,” a JSW spokesperson said. “They have confirmed that the kits are in order and that there are no issues.”

The company added that it remained committed to maintaining the standards and values associated with the Asian Games. It also clarified that ceremonial kit responsibilities, including attire for the opening and closing ceremonies, were not under its scope.

Performance kit versus ceremonial kit

That distinction is important, because not all apparel tied to a multi-sport event falls under the same delivery chain. JSW Inspire said performance kits were provided to the relevant federations in a phased manner, while ceremonial clothing was handled separately.

For athletes and team managers, this means the logistics are more layered than they may appear from the outside. Match kits, travel kits, and ceremonial wear may each move through different approval and handover processes.

What India is aiming for in Aichi-Nagoya

India’s men’s and women’s cricket teams are not just participants in the event; they arrive as defending champions. That puts pressure on every part of the campaign, from training and selection to travel coordination and match-day readiness.

The cricket competition at the Asian Games carries extra weight because expectations are high. Any off-field distraction, even one involving clothing and sizing, can become a larger story when the teams are chasing another strong run.

As one team official put it privately, “At this level, everything matters. The less time spent fixing logistics, the better the focus on cricket.”

What happens next?

For now, the immediate priority is ensuring the squads are fully settled before the bilateral game against Japan and the Asian Games fixtures that follow. If the supplier’s version is the final one, the matter may soon fade into the background.

But the episode has already highlighted how closely fans and stakeholders watch the preparation of India’s national teams. In a tournament where the stakes are high, even a kit story can briefly steal the spotlight.

Ultimately, the bigger question is not whether the kits were delayed or delivered, but whether the teams can block out the noise and focus on defending their titles when the action begins in Aichi-Nagoya.