India and Japan are set to meet for the first time in international cricket when they face each other in a historic one-off T20I at the Sano International Cricket Ground in Japan on Tuesday, September 22.
The match comes ahead of India’s Asian Games campaign and is being played as part of celebrations marking 75 years of diplomatic relations between India and Japan. While India enter the contest as reigning T20 world champions, Japan will get the opportunity to test themselves against one of the strongest teams in international cricket.
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The fixture is also expected to serve as an important outing for India ahead of the Asian Games, with several players in the squad looking to make an impression. However, weather could play a role, with conditions in Sano expected to potentially disrupt the contest.
WHEN AND WHERE WILL INDIA VS JAPAN T20I BE PLAYED?
The one-off T20I between India and Japan will be played at the Sano International Cricket Ground in Sano, Kanto, on Tuesday, September 22.
It will be the first international cricket meeting between the two sides, adding further significance to the fixture.
WHAT TIME WILL INDIA VS JAPAN T20I START?
The match is scheduled to begin at 9:30 AM IST on Tuesday.
The toss is scheduled to take place at 9:00 AM IST, 30 minutes before the start of play.
WHERE CAN FANS WATCH INDIA VS JAPAN ON TV?
Indian viewers will be able to watch the India-Japan T20I live on the Star Sports Network.
The broadcast will provide television coverage of the historic encounter as India begin preparations for their upcoming Asian Games campaign.
HOW TO WATCH INDIA VS JAPAN T20I ONLINE?
Fans looking to watch the match online in India can stream the game live through the FanCode app and website.
The live stream is scheduled to begin from 9:30 AM IST, while the toss will take place at 9 AM.
INDIA SQUAD FOR INDIA VS JAPAN T20I
India’s squad features a mix of established international players and younger names.
India: Sanju Samson (wicketkeeper), Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Shreyas Iyer (captain), Shivam Dube, Ishan Kishan, Axar Patel, Ravi Bishnoi, Yash Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, Washington Sundar, Vipraj Nigam and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi.
The presence of players such as Bumrah, Arshdeep and Axar gives India considerable international experience, while the younger members of the squad will have an opportunity to make their mark.
JAPAN SQUAD FOR INDIA VS JAPAN T20I
Japan will be led by Kendel Fleming, with Shirai Patmore taking the wicketkeeping duties.
Japan: Kendel Fleming (captain), Shirai Patmore (wicketkeeper), Alester Fleming, Benjamin Ito Davis, Reo Sakurano Thomas, Kohei Kubota, Wataru Miyauchi, Declan Suzuki, Ibrahim Takahashi, Makoto Taniyama, Lachlan Yamamoto-Lake, Tsuyoshi Takada, Charlie Hara-Hinze, Shoma Slater and Jake Kusuda-Nairn.
For Japan, the match represents a rare opportunity to compete against a reigning world champion side on the international stage. For India, it provides another competitive outing before their Asian Games campaign.
With rain and weather conditions potentially affecting proceedings, fans will also be keeping an eye on the forecast before the historic contest gets underway in Sano.
