India vs Japan T20I: Suzuki Cup Squads Announced for September 22
- By Thetripurapost Web Desk, Tokyo
- Sep 08, 2026
- 299
India and Japan are set to meet in a historic T20 International on September 22, 2026, with the one-off encounter scheduled at the Sano International Cricket Ground in Tochigi Prefecture, Japan. The match will be played as the Suzuki Cup and will commemorate 75 years of diplomatic relations between India and Japan.
The India vs Japan T20I will begin at 9:30 AM IST. The fixture is also being viewed as an important preparation opportunity for India ahead of the men's cricket competition at the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya.
Japan Announce 15-Member Squad
Japan have named a 15-player squad for the landmark T20I, with Kendal Kadowaki-Fleming set to lead the side. The Japan Cricket Association lists Kadowaki-Fleming as the team's captain and identifies him as a batter and off-spinner.
The match will be particularly significant for Japanese cricket as India and Japan are meeting in a men's T20I for the first time.
India Prepare for Asian Games Campaign
India will enter the match under the leadership of Shreyas Iyer, with Tilak Varma serving as vice-captain. The squad also features several established international players alongside young talent, including Vaibhav Suryavanshi.
The India-Japan fixture comes immediately before the Asian Games cricket programme and will give the Indian side an opportunity to adapt to Japanese conditions and assess combinations before the tournament.
Suzuki Cup Marks 75 Years of India-Japan Relations
The special T20I forms part of celebrations marking the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between India and Japan. The Japan Cricket Association and BCCI have jointly announced the Suzuki Cup at Sano International Cricket Ground for September 22.
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Beyond its sporting significance, the fixture is being positioned as part of a wider effort to expand cricket's presence in Japan and introduce the sport to new audiences.
India vs Japan T20I 2026: Match Details
- Match: India vs Japan, One-off T20I
- Tournament: Suzuki Cup 2026
- Date: September 22, 2026
- Venue: Sano International Cricket Ground, Tochigi, Japan
- Start Time: 9:30 AM IST
- India Captain: Shreyas Iyer
- Japan Captain: Kendal Kadowaki-Fleming
- Occasion: 75th anniversary of India-Japan diplomatic relations
Japan Squad for India T20I
Kendal Kadowaki-Fleming (Captain), Charlie Hara-Hinze, Benjamin Ito-Davis, Kohei Kubota, Wataru Miyauchi, Reo Sakurano-Thomas, Declan Suzuki-McComb, Shoma Sugaya-Slater, Alex Shirai-Patmore, Lachlan Yamamoto-Lake, Makoto Taniyama, Ibrahim Takahashi, Tsuyoshi Takada, Jake Kusuda-Nairn and Alester Kadowaki-Fleming.
The Japan Cricket Association's current team listing uses spellings including Kendal Kadowaki-Fleming, Reo Sakurano-Thomas and Alex Shirai-Patmore.
India Squad for the Suzuki Cup
Shreyas Iyer (Captain), Tilak Varma (Vice-Captain), Vaibhav Suryavanshi, Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson, Ishan Kishan, Shivam Dube, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Ravi Bishnoi, Varun Chakravarthy, Jasprit Bumrah, Harshit Rana and Arshdeep Singh.
The India squad combines experienced T20 internationals with emerging players as the team prepares for its Asian Games campaign.
Asian Games Cricket Follows the Suzuki Cup
The 2026 Asian Games will be hosted in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, with cricket included in the programme. India are the defending men's cricket champions after winning gold at the previous Asian Games.
The Suzuki Cup therefore gives India an additional competitive outing in Japan immediately before its Asian Games campaign.
The India-Japan encounter is expected to attract considerable attention as it combines an important diplomatic milestone with a significant moment in the expansion of international cricket in Japan.
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