Cricket: Sano To Host Historic T20I Between India and Japan

by Devesh Jaganath

image Cricket: Sano To Host Historic T20I Between India and Japan
History will be made this month, as it has now been confirmed that Japan will face India for the first time in international cricket at the Sano International Cricket Ground in Tochigi Prefecture on September 22. This will serve as a warm-up match for both teams ahead of the 2026 Asian Games.
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India-Japan To Face Off Ahead of 2026 Asian Games 

History awaits as India and Japan prepare to face each other for the first time in international cricket in a landmark men’s T20 international this month, and we will be covering all the action in our cricket predictions.

According to a joint statement from the Japan Cricket Association and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), India and Japan will meet on September 22 at the Sano International Cricket Ground in Tochigi Prefecture. BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia said: 

“The BCCI is delighted to be part of this historic occasion as the Indian and Japanese men’s teams come together for a special T20 International in Japan. This is a significant moment for cricket, as it takes the Indian team to new territory and provides an opportunity to introduce the sport to a wider audience in Japan and East Asia."

Fresh from winning the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup earlier this year, India will use this fixture as an important tune-up for the 2026 Asian Games, where they won gold four years ago. For Japan, the clash offers a massive opportunity to gain valuable experience against one of the world’s best. 

The landmark encounter will mark the first international cricket match between these nations and further underline the sport’s push into new territories, with the Asian Games providing a crucial platform before cricket returns to the Olympics at Los Angeles 2028. 

Japan Announces 15-Man Team for T20I Clash Against India

Japan have already announced the squad that will face India in the historic T20I in Sano later this month, and it comes as no surprise that the team is made up of the same 15 players who will represent the nation at the Asian Games. 

Kendel Kadowski, Japan’s all-time leading run scorer in T20Is, will captain the team, and he will be joined by experienced campaigners Ibrahim Takahashi and Declan Suzuki-McComb, both of whom have over 50 T20I caps in national colours. 

Other notable inclusions include the highly rated spin-bowling all-rounder Jake Kusuda-Nairn, who has earned a call-up after impressing domestically, while Benjamin Ito-Davis is also set to return to the national team following his recovery from a hand injury.

Japan Squad for India T20I 2026

Japan cricket team: Kendel Kadowaki-Fleming (c), Charlie Hara-Hinze, Benjamin Ito-Davis, Alester Kadowaki-Fleming, Kohei Kubota, Jake Kusuda-Nairn, Wataru Miyauchi (wk), Reo Sakurano-Thomas, Alex Shirai-Patmore (wk), Shoma Sugaya-Slater, Declan Suzuki-McComb, Tsuyoshi Takada, Ibrahim Takahashi, Makoto Taniyama, Lachlan Yamamoto-Lake