India is set to create history by playing its first-ever men’s T20 International against Japan on September 22, 2026. The one-off match will take place at the Sano International Cricket Ground in Tochigi Prefecture, Japan.
The fixture marks a major milestone for Japanese cricket and forms part of celebrations for the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between India and Japan. It will be contested for the Suzuki Cup and is the first step of the “Sport 75” initiative, aimed at strengthening sporting and people-to-people ties between the two nations.
Reigning ICC Men’s T20 World Cup champions and world No. 1 ranked India will face Japan, currently ranked 41st in the ICC T20I rankings. This will be the 20th different team India has played against in T20 Internationals. The match also serves as valuable preparation for both sides ahead of the men’s cricket competition at the Asian Games 2026 in Aichi-Nagoya.
BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia described the encounter as a significant moment for the global growth of cricket: “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.”
Japan captain Kendel Kadowaki-Fleming will lead a side that includes several dual-passport players and experienced campaigners. India, expected to be led by Shreyas Iyer in this assignment, will use the game to fine-tune combinations and adapt to Japanese conditions before entering the Asian Games (where they have a direct entry into the quarter-finals).
