India face Japan in men's cricket today, ahead of Asian Games

India and Japan are set to clash for the first time in men's cricket history. This friendly encounter, preceding the Asian Games men's cricket tournament, is being held at the Sano International Ground. Dubbed the Suzuki Cup, this T20 match is part of the celebrations marking the 75th anniversary of India-Japan diplomatic relations in 2027. The Indian team, led by Shreyas Iyer, will take on the Japanese side, captained by Kendel Kadowaki-Fleming, Japan's highest T20 run-scorer.

All tickets for the match were sold out well in advance. Mostly, when thinking of sports in Japan, people would primarily consider tennis, baseball, judo, football, and badminton. Cricket's name, however, rarely features on that list.

Surprisingly, cricket has a long and unexpected history in Japan. It first made its way to Japan in 1863, introduced by the British community in Yokohama. The first cricket club was established in 1868. However, cricket soon faded into obscurity as baseball became the nation's most popular sport. In the 1980s, students returning after studying abroad revitalised interest in playing cricket in Japan. Sano, a city in the Tochigi prefecture, has since emerged as the main hub for Japanese cricket. The Japanese team consists of players with roots in countries such as India, Bangladesh, Australia, and New Zealand.