India and Japan are set to celebrate 75 years of diplomatic relations with a historic cricket fixture, as the men’s teams prepare to face each other in a one-off T20I in Japan on September 22, 2026. The match, named the ‘Suzuki Cup’, will be played at the Sano International Cricket Ground in Tochigi Prefecture. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has described the fixture as the first major step in celebrations marking seven-and-a-half decades of diplomatic ties between India and Japan.
The T20I will also launch ‘Sport 75’, an initiative designed to promote people-to-people connections and strengthen cooperation between the two countries through sport. The initiative follows an agreement reached during a summit between Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while also aligning with India’s ambition to host the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2036.
The fixture will be particularly significant for Japanese cricket, as India’s reigning world champions will make their first appearance in the country. BCCI Honorary Secretary Devajit Saikia called the India vs Japan T20I a historic occasion and said the match would help take Indian cricket into a new territory while introducing the sport to a wider audience in Japan and East Asia.
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“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,” Saikia said. Saikia also stressed the BCCI’s responsibility to contribute to cricket’s expansion beyond its traditional strongholds. “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,” he added.
The BCCI will also work alongside the Japan Cricket Association (JCA) to further strengthen cricket’s presence and development in the country.
𝗛𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝗜𝗻 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗠𝗮𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴!
India🇮🇳 🤝 Japan🇯🇵#TeamIndia set to play a historic T20I against Japan to launch the celebrations of the 7️⃣5️⃣th Anniversary of India-Japan Diplomatic Relations. 👏👏@CricketJapan
All The Details 🔽https://t.co/vxdhuT1tgp pic.twitter.com/DQmPncvefH
— BCCI (@BCCI) September 4, 2026
JCA CEO Naoki Miyaji described India’s visit as a landmark moment for Japanese cricket. “To be able to invite the reigning World Champions to the 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,” Miyaji said.
The exhibition match will take place separately from the 2026 Asian Games, which will also be held in Japan. Cricket at the Asian Games begins on September 17, with the women’s competition scheduled to get underway first.
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India have yet to officially announce their squad for the Japan T20I. However, the team could feature the same players selected for the Asian Games campaign.
If that happens, players such as Tilak Varma and Ravi Bishnoi could have special memories of facing Japan, having played against them during the 2020 Under-19 World Cup. The India vs Japan T20I promises to be an important occasion not only for the two teams but also for the broader growth of cricket in Japan and East Asia.
