India, Japan set for historic T20I

Japan will begin their campaign in the group stage, while India have been handed a direct place in the quarter-finals.

India, who won the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup earlier this year, will use the match as an important warm-up ahead of their bid to defend the gold medal they won in the men’s cricket competition at the previous Asian Games.

For Japan, the fixture offers a rare opportunity to test themselves against one of the world’s leading cricket teams and gain valuable experience ahead of the Asian Games. “The BCCI is delighted to be part of this historic occasion as the Indian and Japanese men’s teams come together for a special T20 International in Japan,” BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia said.

“This is a significant moment for cricket, as it takes the Indian team to new territory and provides an opportunity to introduce the sport to a wider audience in Japan and East Asia.”JCA chief executive Naoki Miyaji welcomed the opportunity to host the reigning world champions.

“To be able to invite the reigning World Champions to the home of cricket in Japan is a landmark moment for our association,” he said. The fixture is part of cricket’s continued global expansion, with the Asian Games providing another platform for the sport as it builds towards its return to the Olympics.