Japan Announce Squad For Historic T20I Against India In Sano

A Match Like a Raga's Climax: India Meet Japan in Landmark T20I

Namaste, cricket friends. There is something quietly beautiful about a moment that has never happened before — like the first note of an alap that slowly reveals the whole raga. On September 22, Japan open their historic T20I against world No.1 India at the Sano International Cricket Ground. India are the reigning T20 WC champions, so this is less a contest and more a lesson being taught.

Japan have named a 15-man squad captained by Kendel KadowakiFleming, their all-time leading T20I runscorer, joined by fellow veterans Ibrahim Takahashi and Declan SuzukiMcComb (each with 50+ caps). The selection was shaped by the Asian Games campaign in Nagoya starting just two days later — so players ineligible for those Games were left out. The standout inclusion is emerging spin-allrounder Jake KusudaNairn, while veteran Tsuyoshi Takada returns for his first cap since 2013.

A little story I enjoy: legspinner Makoto Taniyama (jersey No. 23, in tribute to Shane Warne) built his action watching the great man's videos — now Japan's leading wickettaker. Charlie HaraHinze (ex-U19 World Cup side) and returning spinner Benjamin ItoDavis round out a squad chasing 2028 T20 WC qualification, where they sit level on points with PNG but behind on NRR.

This fixture is the first event under "Sport 75", born from the Takaichi-Modi summit — a gentle bridge between two nations through the beautiful game. Japan also play Hong Kong on Sept 19–20 before their Asian Games opener vs Afghanistan on Sept 24.

India's squad (led by Shreyas Iyer): Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson, Ishan Kishan, Shivam Dube, Tilak Varma, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Varun Chakaravarthy, Ravi Bishnoi, Jasprit Bumrah, Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi.

A grand spectacle awaits. 🏏

Source: NDTV Sports