🏏India tour of Japan 2026: One off T20I in Kanto on 22/09/2026🏏

🏏India in Japan 2026: One off T20I at Sano International Cricket Ground, Sano, Kanto on 22/09/2026 at 9:30AM IST🏏

Rain threat looms over Japan's chance to get a glimpse of top-flight cricket

If rain allows, Japan will get a chance to see up close how India, the global superstars, go about their business

On the way to England for the 1930 Ashes, the ship carrying the Australia Test cricketers made a whistlestop in Sri Lanka, then Ceylon. It was customary for Ashes-bound teams to make whistlestops in Ceylon and play a day of cricket, but in 1930 the great Don Bradman played there, a good 45 years before Sri Lanka played international cricket.

In Japan to participate in the Asian Games, the India T20 international team, world champions and the most popular cricket team in the world by some distance, will take a detour to the small town of Sano to play a one-off T20I against Japan. Bradman jumping off the ship and stretching his limbs by playing cricket in Ceylon finally has an equivalent.

Japan are already an international side thanks to ICC's drive to spread the game and give international status to every member nation's T20 side, but they are arguably farther away from top-flight cricket than Sri Lanka were in 1930.

Having said that, this has been a big year for Japan. In the Super Six of the T20 World Cup East Asia-Pacific Qualifiers, they managed to beat Papua New Guinea, who have played two T20 World Cups and would go on to win this Qualifier as well.

Flying high on that win, Japan will get a chance to see up close how the global superstars go about their business: technique, preparation, tactics, routines etc. In the process, if they can manage to give India a scare, this will become a year to never forget for Japan.

Team news

Under Gautam Gambhir as head coach, India played three allrounders, which meant they had a capable batter at No. 8 even if it weakened the bowling a little. VVS Laxman, who played four specialist bowlers in Zimbabwe, is back as head coach for the Japan trip. It will be interesting to see how India select under him.

India 1 Abhishek Sharma, 2 Sanju Samson (wk), 3 Ishan Kishan, 4 Shreyas Iyer (capt.), 5 Tilak Varma, 6 Axar Patel, 7 Shivam Dube, 8 Yash Thakur, 9 Ravi Bishnoi, 10 Arshdeep Singh, 11 Jasprit Bumrah

Kadowaki-Fleming dropped himself to No. 3 in the first match of the series against Hong Kong, played on the weekend before this fixture. It will be interesting to see if he stays there.

Japan 1 Lachlan Yamamoto-Lake, 2 Reo Sakurano-Thomas, 3 Kendel Kadowaki-Fleming (capt.), 4 Benjamin Ito-Davis, 5 Charlie Hara-Hinze, 6 Ibrahim Takahashi, 7 Alester Kadowaki-Fleming, 8 Wataru Miyauchi (wk), 9 Declan Suzuki, 10 Makoto Taniyama, 11 Shoma Sugaya-Slater

Match Overview & Details

Fixture: India vs. Japan, One-Off T20I (Suzuki Cup)

Date & Time: Tuesday, September 22, 2026

Venue: Sano International Cricket Ground, Sano, Tochigi, Japan

Significance: First-ever men's T20I meeting between the two countries, celebrating 75 years of diplomatic relations.

Head Coach (India): VVS Laxman

Captains: Shreyas Iyer (India) vs. Kendel Kadowaki-Fleming (Japan)

Sano International Cricket Ground: Pitch Report

While this is the first time that a full-member nation will play at the Sano International Cricket Ground, the venue has been host to several thrilling T20I encounters in the recent past. In the preceding six games played here, four have been won by the team batting first, which is a big indication of the wicket conditions. As a result, the team winning the toss on Tuesday will most certainly be willing to set a decent target on the board.

Probable Best Batter: Abhishek Sharma

With the kind of form Abhishek Sharma is in at the moment, it is not going to be tough to predict that he is going to enjoy a great outing in the upcoming match against Japan. He was the Player of the Series against Afghanistan and even made the record for the fastest T20I hundred by a batter from Test-playing nation, reaching the landmark off just 30 deliveries. He is expected to carry his form forward.

Probable Best Bowler: Jasprit Bumrah

Against Afghanistan, Jasprit Bumrah made a return to competitive cricket and did not seem to be uncomfortable at all. In fact, he looked in excellent rhythm and never seemed like he was on a break from the game. With years of experience and supreme skills under his belt, Bumrah can prove to be the biggest threat for Japan in the game at Sano.

Today's Match Prediction: Team batting first to win the match

First To Bat

JAPAN

Powerplay: 30-40

160-170

First To Bat

IND

Powerplay: 70-80

200-210

Win Probability

JAPAN 30%

IND 70%

Disclaimer:The prediction is based on the understanding, analysis, and instinct of the author. While making your prediction, consider the points mentioned, and make your own decision.

Stats and trivia

Japan have a 41-19 win-loss record in T20I cricket.

Among those who have batted at least 20 times in T20Is since Abhishek Sharma's debut in July 2024, nobody has struck as quickly as Abhishek's 194.55 per 100 balls.

Quotes

"It is going to be a thrilling and exciting match for us playing Japan for the first time. Looking forward to a great match.

India captain Shreyas Iyer