Japan Set to Face India in Historic T20I Ahead of Asian Games
By Editor • September 15, 2026 • 1 min read
Japan is gearing up to make history as they prepare to take on India in a one-off T20 International match on September 22 in Sano. This match will serve as a precursor to the Asian Games, where Japan will also compete.
Kendel Kadowaki-Fleming, Japan’s leading run-scorer, will captain the team, which features players who will also compete in the Asian Games. Among them are Ibrahim Takahashi and Declan Suzuki-McComb, both seasoned players with over 50 T20I appearances under their belts.
The match, dubbed the Suzuki Cup, celebrates the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between India and Japan. Kadowaki-Fleming, 30, boasts an impressive T20I record with 1871 runs at a strike rate of 139.41, including two centuries and 12 fifties. The Japanese squad, ranked 41st in ICC T20 standings, also includes wicket-keeper Wataru Miyauchi and leg-spinner Makoto Taniyama, inspired by the legendary Shane Warne.
As part of their Asian Games preparation, Japan has made strategic choices in their squad, opting not to include players eligible for T20Is under ICC rules but not under Asian Games regulations. Japan will also participate in two T20Is against Hong Kong on September 19 and 20 before their Asian Games campaign begins against Afghanistan on September 24 and Nepal on September 26.
Source: www.thehindu.com
