India Cricket Team Reaches Japan Ahead of Historic One-Off T20I

The Indian men's cricket team has arrived in Japan, setting the stage for a historic one-off T20 International against the hosts on Tuesday, September 22, 2026. The match, dubbed the 'Suzuki Cup', holds significant cultural and sporting importance, commemorating 75 years of diplomatic relations between India and Japan under the "Sport 75" initiative. Sano Weather Forecast and Rain Chances for India vs Japan One-Off T20I.

India Cricket Team Arrives in Tokyo

Touchdown Tokyo 🛬

All smiles as #TeamIndia has arrived for their historic one-off T20I against Japan and the #AsianGames 2026 campaign 🙌 pic.twitter.com/GfoJBVVknY

— BCCI (@BCCI) September 21, 2026

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) shared visuals of the team's arrival in Tokyo on Monday, September 21, with stars like Ishan Kishan, Jasprit Bumrah, and captain Shreyas Iyer receiving a warm welcome from fans. This landmark fixture will be India's first-ever T20I on Japanese soil and serves as crucial preparation for both teams ahead of the 2026 Asian Games.

India vs Japan - Match Details

Squads and Team News

India, the reigning ICC Men's T20 World Cup champions, will be led by Shreyas Iyer, while Kendel Kadowaki-Fleming captains the Japanese side. The Indian squad features a blend of experienced players and rising talents, including Jasprit Bumrah, Ishan Kishan, and Tilak Varma. Notably, Varun Chakravarthy was ruled out due to a side strain on September 16 and has been replaced by Vipraj Nigam.

Japan's squad, keen to make a mark against a cricketing powerhouse, includes players like Benjamin Ito-Davis and Jake Kusuda-Nairn. Japan Cricket Association (JCA) COO Alan Curr expressed optimism about the match's impact, stating, "To be able to invite the reigning World Champions to the home of cricket in Japan is a landmark moment for our association".

India Squad (Suzuki Cup & Asian Games)

• Shreyas Iyer (Captain)
• Tilak Varma (Vice-Captain)
• Abhishek Sharma
• Sanju Samson (Wicketkeeper)
• Ishan Kishan (Wicketkeeper)
• Shivam Dube
• Axar Patel
• Washington Sundar
• Ravi Bishnoi
• Jasprit Bumrah
• Arshdeep Singh
• Vaibhav Sooryavanshi
• Yash Thakur
• Vipraj Nigam

Japan Squad (Suzuki Cup & Asian Games)

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

Form Guide and Head-to-Head

This match marks the inaugural men's T20 International between India and Japan, adding a unique chapter to cricketing history. India, currently ranked No. 1 in T20Is, enters the contest. Japan, ranked 41st globally, has shown promising form recently, demonstrating their growth in the format. While India boasts a formidable T20I record of 193 wins from 290 matches, the Sano International Cricket Ground, with a capacity of around 2,000, expanded via temporary stands, is expected to be packed, with tickets reportedly selling out within an hour. India Likely Playing XI for One-Off T20I vs Japan: Check Predicted 11.

The match is much more than just a game; it's a testament to cricket's expanding global footprint and a celebration of deepening bilateral ties, promising to inspire a new generation of cricketers in Japan. The Japanese team has expressed eagerness to showcase their "Japanese spirit" against the world champions, highlighting the aspirational value of this momentous occasion.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 21, 2026 04:58 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).