India and Japan are set to face each other for the first time in international cricket in a historic one-off Men’s T20 International on 22 September 2026. The match will be played at the Sano International Cricket Ground in Tochigi Prefecture, Japan, under the Suzuki Cup. The match is significant not only for cricket but also for India-Japan bilateral relations. It will launch celebrations marking the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries and is part of the “Sport 75” initiative, which aims to promote people-to-people exchanges and cooperation through sport. For India, the game will also serve as preparation ahead of the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, where cricket is part of the men’s competition. India enter the fixture as the reigning ICC Men’s T20 World Cup champions, while Japan will gain valuable experience by playing against a leading international cricket side.