India meet Japan in Sano for a first-ever T20I ahead of the Asian Games

India and Japan will meet in a men's international for the first time when the Suzuki Cup T20I is played at Sano on Tuesday, two days before the Asian Games cricket tournament begins

The one-off match at the Sano International Cricket Ground in Tochigi Prefecture starts at 9:30 AM IST on 22 September. It is the only fixture of India's tour, and the first time the two countries have played each other at senior international level in any format.

The game has been staged to mark 75 years of diplomatic relations between the two countries, and is the opening event of a programme called Sport 75 that followed a summit between Japanese prime minister Sanae Takaichi and Indian prime minister Narendra Modi.

For both squads it doubles as preparation. The men's competition at the Asian Games runs from 24 September to 3 October, with India entering at the quarter-final stage and Japan, who qualified as hosts, starting in the group phase.

A fixture built on diplomacy

The match carries the name Suzuki Cup and was confirmed jointly by the BCCI and the Japan Cricket Association this month. It is the first event held under Sport 75, an initiative agreed between the two governments to widen sporting exchange.

BCCI honorary secretary Devajit Saikia framed it as a matter of reach rather than result. "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," he said.

The board has also linked the tour to India's ambition to host the 2036 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Iyer's first assignment in charge

Shreyas Iyer leads India for the first time since his appointment as T20I captain, with Tilak Varma named vice-captain. The party flies on to Aichi after the match rather than returning home.

Jasprit Bumrah is back after being left out of the tours of Ireland and England. Suryakumar Yadav, who captained India to the T20 World Cup title earlier this year, was not selected.

The top order is built around Sanju Samson, Abhishek Sharma and Ishan Kishan, with the teenage batter Vaibhav Sooryavanshi also in the squad. Axar Patel, Washington Sundar and Ravi Bishnoi give Iyer three spin options on a ground India have never played on.

Late changes leave India with 14

India named 15 players for the Asian Games but travel with 14. Varun Chakravarthy was ruled out on 16 September with a side strain sustained while bowling in the first T20I of India's recent series against Afghanistan.

The uncapped Delhi Capitals all-rounder Vipraj Nigam, 22, was named as his replacement and travelled with the squad to Japan.

Nitish Kumar Reddy withdrew separately to play in the ODI series against West Indies, and no replacement was added for him.

Japan's biggest occasion

Japan sit 41st in the men's T20I rankings and reached a best of 40th in May. They are captained by Kendel Kadowaki-Fleming, their leading run-scorer in the format, and coached by David Reid.

It has been a busy year for the side, which has won eight of its 11 T20Is in 2026 and played Hong Kong as recently as 19 September. Sabaorish Ravichandran has been their leading wicket-taker in the format since 2022.

JCA chief executive Naoki Miyaji described the occasion as a first for the association. "To be able to invite the reigning World Champions to the home of cricket in Japan is a landmark moment for our association," he said.

The Asian Games follow in Aichi

The men's tournament in Aichi is a 10-team T20 competition, and India arrive as defending champions after taking gold at the 2022 Games.

India's women are already in their own final, played on the same day as the Suzuki Cup, against Sri Lanka Women at Korogi Sports Park.

Chris Brown of New Zealand and Chris Thurgate of Japan will stand as umpires in Sano.

Play at the Sano International Cricket Ground begins at 9:30 AM IST on Tuesday, with India's Asian Games campaign to follow in Aichi two days later.

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