Tokyo: Japan have announced their 15-member squad for the historic one-off T20 International against India, scheduled for September 22 at the Sano International Cricket Ground in Tochigi. The match will be the first-ever international cricket meeting between India and Japan.
Japan’s leading T20I run-scorer Kendel Kadowaki-Fleming will captain the side. He will be joined by experienced campaigners Ibrahim Takahashi and Declan Suzuki-McComb, who have also crossed 50 T20I appearances for Japan.
The squad has been selected with Japan’s upcoming 2026 Asian Games campaign in mind and is the same group that will represent the country at the Games. Some players eligible for T20Is under International Cricket Council rules have been left out because they do not meet the Asian Games eligibility requirements.
Among the notable inclusions is emerging spin-bowling all-rounder Jake Kusuda-Nairn, who earned his place after impressing in domestic cricket. Veteran Tsuyoshi Takada, who first represented Japan in 2013, also returns to the squad.
The team also features Makoto Taniyama, Japan’s leading wicket-taker across pathway and international cricket. The leg-spinner has spoken about modelling his bowling action on Australian spin great Shane Warne and wears jersey number 23 in his honour.
Japan will also have Charlie Hara-Hinze, who was part of the country’s Under-19 World Cup side that defeated Tanzania, while spinner Benjamin Ito-Davis returns after recovering from a hand injury.
The full Japan squad is: Kendel Kadowaki-Fleming (captain), Charlie Hara-Hinze, Benjamin Ito-Davis, Alester Kadowaki-Fleming, Kohei Kubota, Jake Kusuda-Nairn, Wataru Miyauchi, Reo Sakurano-Thomas, Alex Shirai-Patmore, Shoma Sugaya-Slater, Declan Suzuki-McComb, Tsuyoshi Takada, Ibrahim Takahashi, Makoto Taniyama and Lachlan Yamamoto-Lake.
The India-Japan fixture will launch “Sport 75”, an initiative linked to the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries. The programme aims to promote people-to-people exchanges and greater cooperation through sport.
For Japan, the match will provide an opportunity to test themselves against the reigning T20 World Cup champions and the world’s No. 1-ranked T20I side. India, meanwhile, will use the game as preparation ahead of the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya.
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