India will play Japan in a special men’s T20 international at the Sano International Cricket Ground in Tochigi Prefecture on September 22.
The match, called the Suzuki Cup, has been announced as part of celebrations marking the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between India and Japan.
The fixture is notable because senior international cricket involving India in Japan is extremely rare. It gives the Japan Cricket Association a major showcase event and places the sport inside a broader programme of sporting cooperation between the two countries.
The match will also fall in the middle of a busy period for Indian cricket. India’s T20I series against Afghanistan ends on September 17, while the Asian Games cricket programme is also scheduled during the second half of September.
For Japan, facing India offers visibility that few bilateral fixtures can match. The Sano International Cricket Ground has been central to the country’s cricket development, and the game should draw attention well beyond the regular cricket audience.