India-Japan T20I Could Get Indian Broadcaster as Rights Talks Continue

Efforts are underway to secure an Indian broadcaster for the historic one-off T20I between India and Japan, scheduled for September 22 at Sano International Stadium in Tochigi, Japan.

The Japan Cricket Association (JCA) is in discussions with ITW Universe, which is expected to acquire the broadcast rights. While the original plan was to stream the match on YouTube with limited production, the game could now be available on a major Indian platform.

FanCode is reportedly among the platforms being considered for streaming rights, while ITW Universe is also understood to be in talks with Star, Sony and Zee for television rights. No agreement has been finalised yet.

The match presents a scheduling challenge as it will take place alongside the Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya. The women's cricket gold-medal match is scheduled to begin just an hour after the India-Japan men's game, creating a potential clash if India’s women's team reaches the final.

The organisers considered moving the match to September 23 but could not do so because Japan's men's team is scheduled to travel to Aichi ahead of their Asian Games opener against Afghanistan on September 24.

India are expected to arrive in Sano on September 20 and train the following day. The Indian team will then travel to Aichi for the Asian Games, where their first match is scheduled for September 28.

Meanwhile, the JCA plans to upgrade the 500-capacity Sano International Cricket Ground to accommodate up to 2,000 spectators for the much-anticipated encounter.