India and Japan to play first-ever T20I to mark 75 years of diplomacy
The BCCI and Japan Cricket Association have announced a landmark men's T20 International to mark 75 years of diplomatic ties between the two nations.
India and Japan to play first-ever T20I to mark 75 years of diplomacy
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the Japan Cricket Association (JCA) have announced a historic men's T20 International match between India and Japan. The one-off fixture, titled the Suzuki Cup, is scheduled for Tuesday, September 22, 2026, at the Sano International Cricket Ground in Tochigi Prefecture.
The match serves as the launch for celebrations marking the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two nations. It is the first step in a broader agreement called Sport 75
, an initiative resulting from a summit between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi.
BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia described the match as a significant moment for cricket
, noting that it takes the Indian team into new territory while providing a chance to introduce the sport to a larger audience across East Asia and Japan. Saikia stated that the BCCI, as the world's largest cricket board, recognizes a responsibility to help the sport grow beyond its traditional territories.
For Japan, the match represents a major milestone in the development of the sport domestically. JCA CEO Naoki Miyaji called the invitation of the reigning World Champions to the home of cricket in Japan
a landmark moment
for the association. Miyaji encouraged local Japanese citizens curious about the game to attend and cheer for the national team.
The contest carries tactical weight for both sides as they prepare for the Asian Games 2026. India, which won the gold medal in the men's cricket competition four years ago, will use the match as an essential warm-up. Japan will seek to gain experience by competing against some of the world's top players.
The two teams will follow different paths in the upcoming Asian Games tournament. Japan is set to compete in the group stages, beginning with an opening game against Afghanistan on September 24 in Nisshin, followed by a group-stage match against Nepal on September 26 at the same venue. India, conversely, will enter the competition directly in the quarter-final round, with their opening game scheduled as the second quarter-final in Nisshin on September 28.
The Asian Games schedule further lists semifinals on October 01 and the final on October 03.
The Indian squad for the fixture will be led by captain Shreyas Iyer. The team includes:
- Shreyas Iyer (c)
- Abhishek Sharma
- Sanju Samson
- Ishan Kishan
- Shivam Dube
- Tilak Varma
- Nitish Kumar Reddy
- Axar Patel
- Washington Sundar
- Varun Chakaravarthy
- Ravi Bishnoi
- Jasprit Bumrah
- Harshit Rana
- Arshdeep Singh
- Vaibhav Sooryavanshi
Japan enters the match following a recent appearance in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup East Asia-Pacific Qualifier held in Sano. In their final match of that event's Super Six, Japan defeated Papua New Guinea by 26 runs while defending a total of 121 runs.
The BCCI has indicated it will continue to work closely with the JCA to strengthen the sport in Japan and build upon the relationship established through the Suzuki Cup.
