Japan Squad for India T20I: 15-Man Lineup Announced
Japan has officially named its 15-member squad for the landmark T20 International against India, set to be played on September 22, 2026 at the Sano International Cricket Ground in Tochigi. The match, branded as the Suzuki Cup 2026, marks the first-ever T20I clash between the two nations and kicks off the “Sport 75” initiative celebrating 75 years of India-Japan diplomatic ties.
Squad Announcement: Asian Games Core Retained
The Japan Cricket Association (JCA) confirmed the squad on September 7–8, 2026, just under two weeks before the big game. Notably, this is the same core group selected for Japan’s Asian Games 2026 campaign in Nagoya, which starts on September 24.
Key Selection Notes
- Kendel Kadowaki-Fleming returns as captain. He’s Japan’s all-time leading T20I run-scorer with 1,871 runs in 55 games.
- Only three players — Tsuyoshi Takada, Jake Kusuda-Nairn, and Alester Kadowaki-Fleming — are additions from Japan’s ‘A’ squad, not in the Asian Games lineup.
- Players eligible for T20Is but not meeting Asian Games criteria have been left out to ensure continuity.
Full Japan Squad for India T20I (Suzuki Cup 2026)
Here’s the official 15-man roster:
- 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
Standout Names to Watch
- Ibrahim Takahashi: Japan’s leading wicket-taker in the current squad with 48 wickets from 46 T20Is.
- Makoto Taniyama: Leg-spinner and Japan’s top wicket-taker across pathway and international cricket. Wears #23 in tribute to Shane Warne.
- Charlie Hara-Hinze: Part of Japan’s Under-19 World Cup squad that beat Tanzania.
- Benjamin Ito-Davis: Returning spinner after a hand injury interrupted his 2028 Sub-Regional Qualifier campaign.
Match Context: More Than Just Cricket
This one-off T20I isn’t only about on-field action. It’s a strategic move to:
- Promote cricket in Japan ahead of the Asian Games.indiatoday+1
- Strengthen India-Japan sports diplomacy under the “Sport 75” banner.
- Give India’s Shreyas Iyer-led squad match practice in local conditions before their Asian Games opener.
BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia called the fixture “a big step for cricket beyond traditional boundaries,” signaling more such global expansion games in the future.
What’s Next?
Japan will also play two T20Is against Hong Kong on September 19 and 20 as final warm-ups. At the Asian Games, they’re in Group A with Afghanistan (Sept 24) and Nepal (Sept 26), needing a top-two finish to reach the quarter-finals.
For India, this match is a chance to test combinations before their own Asian Games campaign, where they’re heavy favorites for another gold.
