India have arrived in Tokyo ahead of their historic one-off T20I against Japan on Tuesday, with the fixture set to mark the first international cricket meeting between the two nations. The match has been organised as part of celebrations marking 75 years of diplomatic relations between India and Japan.
There is a significant difference in experience between the two sides, with India entering the contest as three-time T20 World Cup champions, while Japan are ranked 41st in the world in men’s T20I cricket. The BCCI shared footage on Monday showing the Indian squad arriving at Tokyo airport. Captain Shreyas Iyer led the group as the team began preparations for the much-anticipated contest.
However, some members of the squad also found time to experience Tokyo before shifting their complete focus towards the game. India allrounder Washington Sundar shared a photograph with wicketkeeper-batter Sanju Samson as the duo explored the Japanese capital.
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For Japan, the fixture presents a rare opportunity to compete against one of the leading teams in international cricket. Facing India will provide the hosts with valuable experience as they continue their efforts to develop the game domestically.
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The fixture, however, faces uncertainty due to the threat of an approaching typhoon. Despite the weather concerns, the match has already generated attention around cricket’s efforts to expand its footprint in Japan, where baseball remains the country’s most popular bat-and-ball sport.
Touchdown Tokyo 🛬
All smiles as #TeamIndia has arrived for their historic one-off T20I against Japan and the #AsianGames 2026 campaign 🙌 pic.twitter.com/GfoJBVVknY
— BCCI (@BCCI) September 21, 2026
The game is scheduled to be played at the Sano International Cricket Ground, located around 100 kilometres from central Tokyo. India arrived in the Japanese capital on Sunday, with the venue expected to attract a larger crowd than usual for Tuesday’s historic encounter. The ground has a capacity of around 2,000 spectators and is also used for baseball.
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Japan’s cricket setup has followed a different development path compared with several emerging cricket nations. A large number of players in the national setup are Japanese-born, rather than the team relying mainly on members of the South Asian diaspora. The match also serves as preparation for the upcoming Asian Games. As a result, Japan have omitted players who are eligible for T20Is under ICC rules but do not meet the eligibility criteria for the Asian Games.
