Kendel Kadowaki-Fleming to captain Japan in historic T20I against India

Japan have announced a familiar-looking squad for their historic one-off T20I against India on September 22, with the same group also set to represent the country at the Asian Games in Nagoya later this month.

The match will be played at the Sano International Cricket Ground and will mark the first-ever international meeting between India and Japan in cricket. The game, being played for the Suzuki Cup, will also kick off celebrations marking the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two nations.

Japan have retained their Asian Games squad for the India fixture, meaning players who are eligible under ICC T20I regulations but do not meet Asian Games eligibility requirements have been left out.

Spin-bowling allrounder Jake Kusuda-Nairn, 21, has received his first Japan call-up despite having no previous international appearances. Tsuyoshi Takada, who last played three T20Is in 2023, has also returned to the squad.

Kendel Kadowaki-Fleming will continue as captain. Japan's leading T20I batter has scored 1,871 runs from 54 innings. Ibrahim Takahashi and Declan Suzuki-McComb bring further experience, having played 56 and 54 T20Is respectively.

The fixture forms part of the "Sport 75" initiative, which aims to strengthen sporting ties between India and Japan. It follows an agreement between the two countries' leaders and is also linked to India's ambition to host the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2036.

Japan squad for one-off T20I vs India

Kendel Kadowaki-Fleming (capt), 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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