Japan name squad for historic India T20I in Sano, with captain Kendel Kadowaki-Fleming set to lead the side when Japan take on the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup champions and world No.1 ranked India on September 22. The historic men’s T20I will be played at the Sano International Cricket Ground and is expected to be a major moment for Japanese cricket.
Japan have announced the same group that will also represent the country in their home Asian Games campaign. The Asian Games will begin in Nagoya just two days after the match against India, giving the Japanese team an important opportunity to test themselves against one of the strongest sides in international cricket before the continental competition begins.
The upcoming India match is not just another international fixture for Japan. It is part of a wider effort to build stronger sporting ties between Japan and India while also giving Japanese cricketers the chance to play against some of the biggest names in the game.
Japan Name Squad for Historic India T20I in Sano
The Japan squad features a mixture of experienced international players and younger cricketers who have made an impression through domestic and pathway cricket.
Kendel Kadowaki-Fleming will once again captain the team. He is Japan’s all-time leading run-scorer in men’s T20I cricket and remains one of the most important players in the country’s international setup.
Alongside him, Ibrahim Takahashi and Declan Suzuki-McComb bring considerable experience to the group. Both players have already represented Japan in more than 50 T20 internationals, making them two of the most experienced members of the squad.
With Japan preparing for the Asian Games as well as the meeting with India, the selectors have chosen a group that combines experience with several players looking to make their mark on the international stage.
Japan Select Same Squad for Asian Games Campaign
The squad selected for the India T20I is the same group that Japan will take into their home Asian Games campaign.
The decision has been influenced by the different eligibility requirements between international cricket and the Asian Games. As part of their preparation, Japan have decided not to select players who are eligible to play T20 internationals under International Cricket Council regulations but do not meet the eligibility rules for the Asian Games.
That has opened the door for several players to receive an opportunity with the national side.
One of the players benefiting from the selection approach is emerging spin-bowling all-rounder Jake Kusuda-Nairn. He has impressed in domestic cricket and now gets the chance to step up to the international level.
The squad also includes the return of experienced player Tsuyoshi Takada. Takada first represented Japan during the ICC East Asia-Pacific Twenty20 Championship in 2013, making his return another interesting part of the selection.
Jake Kusuda-Nairn Gets Chance After Domestic Success
Jake Kusuda-Nairn is one of the names that could attract attention during Japan’s upcoming international schedule.
The young spin-bowling all-rounder has earned his place after producing impressive performances in domestic competition. His selection gives Japan another option with both bat and ball and could be particularly useful during a busy period that includes the India match and the Asian Games.
Facing India will provide Kusuda-Nairn and the other less experienced players with an opportunity that is difficult to find in international cricket. Playing against the reigning T20 World Cup champions and the world’s top-ranked T20I side will offer a huge test of Japan’s developing cricket structure.
Wataru Miyauchi and Makoto Taniyama Represent Japanese Cricket Pathway
Japan’s squad also includes Wataru Miyauchi and Makoto Taniyama, two players who have come through Japanese schools that run cricket Bukatsu programmes.
Their presence is significant because it highlights the growing pathway for young cricketers within Japan itself.
Makoto Taniyama is a leg-spinner whose cricketing journey has also been influenced by one of Australia’s greatest players, Shane Warne. Taniyama modelled his bowling action after watching videos of Warne on YouTube.
He also wears shirt number 23 as a tribute to the Australian spin legend.
Taniyama has already established himself as an important player in Japan’s cricket system. He is the country’s leading wicket-taker across pathway and international competitions, making him one of the players to watch as Japan take on a world-class Indian side.
U19 World Cup Winner Charlie Hara-Hinze Included
The Japan squad also features Charlie Hara-Hinze, who was part of the country’s Under-19 Cricket World Cup team that recorded a victory over Tanzania.
His inclusion gives the squad another player with experience of representing Japan at a major international pathway event.
For a developing cricket nation, giving opportunities to players who have progressed through youth cricket is an important part of building a stronger senior team. Hara-Hinze’s selection reflects that approach and could give him another valuable step in his international career.
Benjamin Ito-Davis Returns After Hand Injury
Japan have also welcomed back spinner Benjamin Ito-Davis.
Ito-Davis was part of Japan’s plans during the East Asia-Pacific T20 World Cup 2028 Sub-Regional Qualifier, but his campaign was cut short after he suffered a hand injury.
His return provides Japan with another experienced spin option ahead of the important fixtures in September.
Japan finished second in that qualifying tournament and remain in contention for a place at the 2028 T20 World Cup. They finished level on points with Papua New Guinea, but Papua New Guinea moved ahead on net run rate.
Japan’s campaign was still an impressive one, particularly because they defeated the Barramundis on the final day of the competition. Despite that victory, the overall net run rate left Japan in second place.
Full Japan Squad for India T20I and Asian Games
Japan’s squad for the historic meeting with India and their Asian Games campaign is:
Kendel Kadowaki-Fleming (captain), Charlie Hara-Hinze, Benjamin Ito-Davis, Alester Kadowaki-Fleming, Kohei Kubota, Jake Kusuda-Nairn, Wataru Miyauchi (wicketkeeper), Reo Sakurano-Thomas, Alex Shirai-Patmore (wicketkeeper), Shoma Sugaya-Slater, Declan Suzuki-McComb, Tsuyoshi Takada, Ibrahim Takahashi, Makoto Taniyama and Lachlan Yamamoto-Lake.
The squad contains a balance of established international players, returning cricketers and emerging talent, with the team set for an extremely demanding run of matches.
Also read: How Can Pakistan Qualify for Semifinals of 2026 Women’s Twenty20 Asia Cup?
India vs Japan T20I Part of ‘Sport 75’ Initiative
The India-Japan match in Sano also has importance beyond cricket.
The fixture will serve as the first step of “Sport 75”, an initiative connected to an agreement reached during a summit between Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The initiative aims to encourage greater human exchanges and cooperation between India and Japan through sport.
The agreement also takes into account India’s ambition to host the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2036. With cricket continuing to grow internationally and Japan developing its own cricket infrastructure, the India fixture represents an opportunity to bring the two sporting communities closer.
For Japan, hosting India provides a chance to showcase the progress made by cricket in the country. For Indian cricket, the match is another opportunity to contribute to the sport’s development in a nation where cricket is still building a wider following.
Japan Face Hong Kong Before Asian Games
The India match is not the only important fixture on Japan’s September schedule.
Japan will also play two T20 internationals against Hong Kong on September 19 and 20. Those matches will come just days before the historic encounter with India.
The schedule means Japan will have a busy period of international cricket before moving into their Asian Games campaign.
After facing India on September 22, Japan will begin their Asian Games campaign against Afghanistan on September 24. They will then meet Nepal on September 26.
Japan will need to finish in the top two of their group to advance to the quarter-finals of the Asian Games competition.
Japan Face Huge Test Against India
The meeting with India will undoubtedly be one of the biggest challenges in Japan’s cricket history.
India enter the contest as the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup champions and the No.1 ranked men’s T20I team. For Japan, the match will provide an opportunity to measure their progress against a side packed with international experience.
At the same time, Japan will not want the fixture to be viewed simply as a one-sided contest. Their recent performances in regional competitions and their continued development of domestic and youth pathways show that the country is building a stronger cricket system.
Players such as Kendel Kadowaki-Fleming, Ibrahim Takahashi, Declan Suzuki-McComb and Makoto Taniyama will bring experience, while younger players such as Jake Kusuda-Nairn and Charlie Hara-Hinze will be looking to make an impression.
Also read: Women Cricket Asia Cup 2026 Schedule: Semi-Finals, Qualified Teams, Match Timings and Final Date
A Historic Moment for Japanese Cricket
The India T20I in Sano could become an important milestone for Japanese cricket.
Playing against the reigning world champions gives Japan a rare opportunity to perform in front of a major international audience. More importantly, the fixture comes at a time when Japan are working to strengthen their cricket pathway and prepare for future international competitions.
With the Asian Games immediately following the India match, the Japanese squad will have little time to rest. Their September schedule will test the team’s fitness, depth and ability to compete against different styles of opposition.
For captain Kendel Kadowaki-Fleming, leading Japan against India will be another major chapter in his international career. As Japan’s leading T20I run-scorer, he will be expected to provide stability at the top of the order while guiding a squad that contains both experienced players and promising newcomers.
The India fixture, therefore, carries significance on several levels. It is a major sporting event for Japan, an important preparation match before the Asian Games, and a key part of the wider sporting relationship between India and Japan.
With Hong Kong, India, Afghanistan and Nepal all on the schedule, Japan face a demanding September. But it is also a month that could give the country’s cricketers valuable experience and help take Japanese cricket to another level.
