India-Japan T20I big step for cricket beyond traditional boundaries: BCCI secretary

BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia has described the historic one-off T20 International against Japan as a major step in cricket’s efforts to expand beyond its traditional boundaries and reach new audiences.

India and Japan will face each other for the first time in a T20I on September 22 at the Sano International Cricket Ground in Tochigi Prefecture. The match, which will be played under the Suzuki Cup banner, comes ahead of the men’s cricket competition at the Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, which starts on September 19.

The match will also commemorate the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between India and Japan.

CRICKET’S GLOBAL PUSH

Saikia said the India-Japan match reflected a wider ambition to take cricket into newer territories and strengthen its presence in regions with significant potential.

In a post on X, the BCCI secretary said the global journey of international cricket has been shaped by events that have pushed the sport beyond its established markets.

“The India-Japan T20I match on 22-Sep-26 is one such moment when international cricket will reach Japan, connect with a new audience and strengthen the game’s presence in a region with huge potential,” Saikia said. India will face Japan in a T20I match. (Image: Screengrab from X/@lonsaikia)

He also thanked ICC Chairman Jay Shah for his efforts to expand cricket’s global footprint and said the vision remained focused on making the sport more accessible, inclusive and truly global.

Saikia added that the BCCI remains committed to contributing to the growth of international cricket.

“India-Japan is more than just a cricket match. It represents the direction in which our sport is moving from global ambition to global reality,” he said.

PREPARATION OF THE ASIAN GAMES

A T20I will also serve as a one-off valuable preparation for India ahead of the Asian Gamesallowing the team to get used to the conditions in Japan and fine-tune their combinations before the tournament.

India, who are number one in the ICC T20 rankings and the reigning T20 World Cup champions, will enter the Asian Games as one of the favourites. Japan is currently ranked 41st in the T20 rankings.

Seeded straight into the knockout stage, India will begin their campaign in the quarter-finals on September 28.

The Indian squad will be led by Shreyas Iyer and Tilak Varma will serve as vice-captain. Key names in the squad also include Sanju Samson and teenage batting sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi.

The match against Japan therefore offers India both a historic opportunity and a practical opportunity to prepare for the Asian Games campaign while helping to introduce cricket to a relatively untapped market.

– The end

Issued by:

Amar Panicker

Published on:

07 Sep 2026 11:57 IST