Toss in India vs Japan T20I Delayed Due to Wet Outfield
The historic India vs Japan T20I on September 22, 2026, at Sano International Cricket Ground has been delayed due to a wet outfield, with the toss inspection now set for 14:15 JST. This marks the first-ever senior men's T20I clash between the two nations, serving as preparation for the Asian Games and celebrating 75 years of diplomatic ties.
SANO, JAPAN: The historic one-off T20 International between cricketing giants India and hosts Japan, slated for Tuesday, September 22, 2026, has experienced an unfortunate delay, much to the anticipation of fans. The toss at the Sano International Cricket Ground in Tochigi Prefecture has been postponed due to a wet outfield, with officials now set for a crucial pitch inspection at 14:15 PM Japan Standard Time (JST), which is 10:45 AM as per Indian Standard Time (IST). Sano Weather Live: Get Rain Chance Updates for India vs Japan One-Off T20I 2026.
Original plans had the toss scheduled for 12:30 PM JST, with the match's official start time of 13:00 PM JST (9:30 AM IST). However, persistent cloudy conditions have kept the ground damp, necessitating the delay.
First-Ever Meeting on the T20I Stage
This fixture marks a significant milestone as it is the first senior men's T20I meeting between India and Japan. The match, dubbed the 'Suzuki Cup,' is also a part of India's 2026 tour of Japan and serves to commemorate 75 years of diplomatic relations between the two countries. Furthermore, it acts as a crucial preparatory game for both teams ahead of the 2026 Asian Games, where cricket is a featured sport from September 17 to October 3 in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan.
Team Strengths and Rankings
India, the reigning T20 World Champions, enter this contest tied with England as the world's top-ranked T20I team. They field a strong squad led by Shreyas Iyer, including prominent players like Jasprit Bumrah, Sanju Samson, and Abhishek Sharma.
Japan, currently ranked 41st in the ICC Men's T20I rankings, are led by Kendel Kadowaki-Fleming and are keen to test their mettle against a top-tier cricketing nation. All-rounder Benjamin Ito-Davis expressed the team's excitement to compete on the global stage.
India vs Japan T20I Squads:
India: Shreyas Iyer (C), Tilak Varma (VC), Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson (WK), Ishan Kishan (WK), Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Ravi Bishnoi, Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Yash Thakur, Vipraj Nigam.
Japan: 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.
Match Details at a Glance:
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Match | India vs Japan, One-Off T20I (Suzuki Cup) |
| Venue | Sano International Cricket Ground, Sano, Japan |
| Date | Tuesday, September 22, 2026 |
| Scheduled Start | 13:00 PM JST (Japan Standard Time) |
| IST Start Time | 09:30 AM IST (Indian Standard Time) |
| Inspection | 14:15 PM JST (Local Time), 10:45 AM IST |
| Captains | Shreyas Iyer (IND), Kendel Kadowaki-Fleming (JPN) |
Where to Watch India vs Japan
For fans in India, the match will be broadcast live on the Star Sports Network and available for live streaming on the FanCode app and website. ITW Universe holds the global production, broadcast distribution, and commercial marketing rights for this historic fixture.
As the ground staff work diligently to prepare the playing surface, all eyes will be on the 14:15 JST inspection, hoping for a favourable report that allows this landmark encounter to get underway. Cricket enthusiasts globally are eagerly awaiting the start of this unique contest, which promises to be a memorable day for Japanese cricket.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 22, 2026 10:48 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).