New Delhi, September 5: India and Japan are set to meet for the first time in international cricket when the two sides face off in a historic men’s T20I on September 22. The Japan Cricket Association (JCA) and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) confirmed that the match will be played at the Sano International Cricket Ground in Tochigi Prefecture.
The BCCI welcomed the fixture as a landmark occasion for the sport in Japan. “The BCCI is delighted to be part of this historic occasion as the Indian and Japanese men’s teams come together for a special T20 International in Japan,” BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia said. “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 added.
JCA CEO Naoki Miyaji described the fixture as a landmark moment for cricket in Japan. “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.
Both teams are also set to feature in the men’s cricket tournament at the 2026 Asian Games. While Japan will begin its campaign in the group stages, India will enter the competition directly in the quarter-final round. The first-ever meeting between the two sides in international cricket comes as the sport continues its global expansion. The upcoming Asian Games will serve as another important milestone ahead of cricket’s return to the Olympics.
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