India and Japan to Make History with One-Off T20I in Tochigi

In a significant step for cricket’s global expansion, India and Japan will face off in their first-ever international match later this month. The one-off T20I, scheduled for September 22 at the Sano International Cricket Ground in Tochigi Prefecture, has been organized to launch the celebrations of the 75th anniversary of India-Japan Diplomatic Relations.

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

The contest forms part of “Sport 75,” an initiative stemming from an agreement reached during a summit between Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and Indian Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi. The programme aims to promote human exchanges and cooperation between the two nations in the field of sports, with India’s ambition of hosting the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2036 serving as a broader context.

For Japan, the match represents a landmark moment for cricket in the country. For India, it marks the first time the men’s team will play on Japanese soil, taking the sport to new territory in East Asia.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India, which announced the fixture on Friday, emphasized the significance of the occasion and the responsibility that comes with being the world’s largest cricket board.

“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,” said BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia. “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 highlighted the broader vision behind the fixture, adding: “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 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.”

Naoki Miyaji, the CEO of Japan Cricket Association, described the fixture as a landmark moment for the sport in the country.

“To be able to invite the reigning World Champions to the home of cricket in Japan is a landmark moment for our association,” Miyaji said. “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.”

                                               

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