India to play maiden T20I against Japan to commemorate historic milestone

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and Japan Cricket Association (JCA) have decided to play a men's T20I to celebrate the 75th anniversary of India-Japan diplomatic relations. Team India and Japan will cross swords against each other in the one-off fixture, named the Suzuki Cup, at the Sano International Cricket Ground in Tochigi Prefecture on Tuesday, September 22, 2026.

The BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia expressed merriment over the momentous occasion: “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. 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.

“India and Japan share a strong and longstanding relationship and friendship, and we are pleased that cricket will be part of the celebrations marking 75 years of bilateral relations between the two countries, and we thank the Japan Cricket Association (JCA) for its efforts in making this fixture possible.

“The BCCI believes that the growth of cricket must extend beyond its traditional territories, and as the world’s largest cricket board, we recognise our responsibility to contribute to that growth.

“The BCCI will work closely with the JCA to further strengthen cricket in Japan and to build on this relationship in the years ahead.”

Both governments have planned an initiative named "Sport 75", which is an outcome of an agreement reached during a summit held between India's prime minister Narendra Modi and Japan's prime minister Sanae Takaichi.

Japan Cricket Association's CEO Naoki Miyaji called the India-Japan maiden T20I fixture a "landmark moment" for cricket in the country.

“To be able to invite the reigning World Champions to then home of cricket in Japan is a landmark moment for our association. We thank the BCCI for working with us towards this goal and greatly look forward to welcoming the passion of Indian cricket fans, and we actively encourage any local Japanese people curious about cricket to come and cheer on our team in what will be a truly memorable occasion,” Miyaji said in a press release.