Japan have announced their squad for a landmark men’s T20I against India, with the Asian side set to take on the reigning ICC Men’s T20 World Cup champions and the world’s No. 1-ranked team on September 22 at the Sano International Cricket Ground. The fixture will mark a major moment for Japanese cricket and comes just two days before they begin their Asian Games 2026 campaign in Nagoya.

Kendel Kadowaki-Fleming to lead Japan

Kendel Kadowaki-Fleming will captain the Japanese side and once again spearhead the batting unit. The experienced opener is Japan’s all-time leading run-scorer in T20Is and will be one of the key players expected to guide the team through what promises to be a challenging but memorable occasion.

Ibrahim Takahashi and Declan Suzuki-McComb bring further experience to the squad, having both played more than 50 T20Is for Japan. Their familiarity with international cricket could prove valuable as the team prepares to face a side packed with established stars.

The squad is largely the same group selected for Japan’s home Asian Games campaign, which gets underway in Nagoya on September 24.

Jake Kusuda-Nairn earns maiden call-up

Japan have made several selection decisions with their Asian Games eligibility requirements in mind. The team has opted against selecting players who can represent Japan in T20Is under ICC regulations but do not meet the eligibility rules for the Asian Games.

That has opened the door for emerging spin-bowling all-rounder Jake Kusuda-Nairn. The youngster has impressed in domestic cricket and now gets an opportunity to make his mark on the international stage against one of the strongest teams in the world.

Veteran Tsuyoshi Takada also returns to the squad. Takada first represented Japan at the ICC East Asia-Pacific Twenty20 Championship in 2013, making his inclusion a notable link between the country’s early international journey and its current ambitions.

The squad also highlights the growing role of Japan’s school cricket programmes. Wataru Miyauchi and Makoto Taniyama are both alumni of Japanese schools that run cricket Bukatsu programmes. Taniyama, in particular, has an interesting connection with one of cricket’s greatest leg-spinners. He developed his bowling action while watching videos of the late Australian legend Shane Warne on YouTube. He wears shirt number 23 as a tribute to Warne and has emerged as Japan’s leading wicket-taker across pathway and international competitions.

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India clash begins ‘Sport 75’ initiative

The historic fixture is also part of a wider sporting exchange between Japan and India. The India game represents the first step in the ‘Sport 75’ initiative, which follows an agreement reached during a summit involving Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The initiative is aimed at strengthening people-to-people exchanges and cooperation between the two nations through sport, while also acknowledging India’s ambition to host the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2036.

Japan squad for India T20I: Kendel Kadowaki-Fleming (c), Charlie Hara-Hinze, Benjamin Ito-Davis, Alester Kadowaki-Fleming, Kohei Kubota, Jake Kusuda-Nairn, Wataru Miyauchi (wk), Reo Sakurano-Thomas, Alex Shirai-Patmore (wk), Shoma Sugaya-Slater, Declan Suzuki-McComb, Tsuyoshi Takada, Ibrahim Takahashi, Makoto Taniyama, Lachlan Yamamoto-Lake

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