Japan Unveils Squad for Historic T20I Against India
Japan's Squad Announcement for T20I Clash
Sano [Japan], September 8: Japan has revealed its team for the upcoming men's T20I match against the reigning T20 World Cup champions, India, ranked number one globally. Kendel Kadowaki-Fleming will captain the squad during this significant match at the Sano International Cricket Ground on September 22.
The selected players are the same as those chosen for Japan's home campaign in the Asian Games, which kicks off in Nagoya just two days after the match against India, according to reports from ICC.
Kadowaki-Fleming, who holds the record as Japan's leading T20I run-scorer, will lead the team alongside Ibrahim Takahashi and Declan Suzuki-McComb, both of whom have over 50 T20I appearances.
In forming the squad, Japan has considered their Asian Games objectives, opting to exclude players who qualify for T20Is under ICC rules but do not meet Asian Games eligibility.
This decision has allowed emerging spin-bowling all-rounder Jake Kusuda-Nairn to join the team after showcasing his talent in domestic cricket. Veteran player Tsuyoshi Takada also makes a return, having first played for Japan in the ICC East Asia-Pacific Twenty20 Championship back in 2013.
The lineup features Wataru Miyauchi and Makoto Taniyama, both of whom have honed their skills through Japanese schools with cricket Bukatsu programs. Taniyama, a leg-spinner inspired by Australian legend Shane Warne, wears jersey number 23 to honor his idol and is recognized as Japan's top wicket-taker in both pathway and international cricket.
Additionally, Charlie Hara-Hinze, who was part of Japan's Under-19 World Cup team that triumphed over Tanzania, has been included. Spinner Benjamin Ito-Davis returns to the squad after recovering from a hand injury that sidelined him during Japan's East Asia-Pacific T20 World Cup 2028 Sub-Regional Qualifier.
Japan secured second place in that tournament and is still in the running for qualification for the 2028 T20 World Cup, currently tied on points with Papua New Guinea but trailing on net run rate, despite having defeated them in their last match.
The match against India will mark the inaugural event under the "Sport 75" initiative, which emerged from discussions between Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. This initiative aims to enhance exchanges and cooperation between Japan and India through sports.
Before their Asian Games journey begins, Japan will also compete against Hong Kong in two T20Is on September 19 and 20, followed by matches against Afghanistan on September 24 and Nepal on September 26. To progress to the quarter-finals, they must secure a top-two finish.
India's squad for this landmark match will be led by Shreyas Iyer and includes players such as 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, and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi.
Japan's squad: 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.