The historic one-off T20I between India and Japan has officially sold out, with the match set to be played under the Suzuki Cup banner. The Japan Cricket Association (JCA) confirmed the ticketing milestone on Thursday ahead of the September 22 fixture at the Sano International Cricket Stadium.
The game will celebrate 75 years of diplomatic relations between India and Japan. It will also launch the Sport 75 initiative, which aims to strengthen sporting ties between the two countries. Japanese PM Sanae Takaichi and Indian PM Narendra Modi discussed greater cooperation through sport at a recent summit.
Historic India vs Japan T20I Sells Out Ahead of Suzuki Cup Clash
The Japan Cricket Association confirmed the sell-out on Thursday, with the Suzuki Cup fixture set to become the first senior international meeting between the two nations.
“Tickets for this historic match are sold out! Japan 🇯🇵 and India 🇮🇳 will face off for the first time ever on the international cricket stage! Thank you for all your support for this historic match at Sano International Cricket Stadium!,” JCA said in an X post.
歴史的な一戦のチケットは完売しました！🏏🎉 日本 🇯🇵 とインド 🇮🇳 が、国際クリケットの舞台で史上初対戦！ 佐野国際クリケット場で行われる歴史的な一戦に、たくさんのご声援ありがとうございます！ 2026年9月22日 — 13:00時間 #japancricket #クリケット #india #JPNvIND #SuzukiCup https://t.co/oD8ezAXwK4
— 一般社団法人 日本クリケット協会｜ JCA Japan Cricket Association (@CricketJapan) September 10, 2026
The ICC and BCCI have been working to expand the sport into new markets, while Japan will make its Asian Games debut as hosts in 2026. Notably, the team has never played a full-member nation since making its T20I debut in 2022.
India U-19 Dominated Japan in Their First Cricket Meeting
Although the senior teams will meet for the first time in September, India and Japan have already faced each other at the youth level. Their first meeting came during the 2020 U-19 World Cup group-stage fixture in Bloemfontein, South Africa, on January 21.
India fielded a strong youth side that included future internationals Yashasvi Jaiswal, Riyan Parag, Dhruv Jurel, and Ravi Bishnoi. Japan struggled against the Indian attack as Kartik Tyagi and Bishnoi shared the bulk of the wickets to bowl them out for just 41 runs.
India needed only a few overs to finish the chase without losing a wicket. Jaiswal scored an unbeaten 29 off 18 balls as India reached the target inside five overs and secured a comprehensive 10-wicket victory.
India and Japan Set for Another Asian Games Clash
Japan are set to host the men's and women's cricket competitions at the 2026 Asian Games. The matches will be played at Kōrogi Sports Park in Nisshin, Aichi Prefecture.
India will also enter the tournament as the defending champions after winning both the men's and women's gold medals at the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou. The women's teams are scheduled to meet in the first quarterfinal on September 17.
In the men's competition, India have secured direct entry into the quarterfinals as one of the top seeds. Japan, meanwhile, will have to come through the preliminary round, where they are placed in Group A alongside Afghanistan and Nepal.
Group B features Hong Kong China, Malaysia and Oman. If Japan advance from the preliminary stage, they could meet India again in the knockout rounds.
