'There is much more to come': BCCI secretary on historic India-Japan T20I match

BCCI's Saikia: Japan T20I is cricket's global playbook in action

Big moment landing on the calendar. On 22nd Sep '26, India take on Japan in a T20I at Sano International Cricket Ground (Tochigi) — branded the Suzuki Cup, marking 75 yrs of India-Japan diplomatic ties under the 'Sport 75' initiative. BCCC Secretary Devajit Saikia called it a defining moment in cricket's push to become a genuinely global sport.

The read here isn't just about the game — it's about market expansion. Saikia laid credit squarely at ICC Chairman Jay Shah's feet, noting the consistent thread of taking cricket into new territories and building the pathway toward the Olympics. Translation: this is strategic, not ceremonial. India (No.1 T20 ranking, reigning T20 WC champs) vs Japan (41st, first-ever meeting at this level) — the mismatch is real, but the audience potential is the real asset.

Competitive angle: This fixture doubles as prep for the Asian Games men's cricket tournament (Aichi-Nagoya, from 19th Sep). India enter at the QF stage, first knockout on 28th Sep. Captain: Shreyas Iyer, VC: Tilak Varma. Sanju Samson and teenage star Vaibhav Sooryavanshi in the squad.

Bottom line: India testing combinations against unfamiliar Japanese conditions while Japan gets a once-in-a-lifetime showcase. As Saikli put it — "there is much more to come."

Source: Crictracker