'There is much more to come': BCCI secretary on historic India-Japan T20I match

By MagnetGuy

**BCCI's Saikia: Japan T20I is cricket's global playbook in action** Big moment landing on the calendar. On **22nd Sep '26**, India take on Japan in a T20I at Sano International Cricket Ground (Tochigi) — branded the **Suzuki Cup**, marking 75 yrs of India-Japan diplomatic ties under the 'Sport 75' initiative. BCCC Secretary Devajit Saikia called it a defining moment in cricket's push to become a genuinely global sport. The read here isn't just about the game — it's about **market expansion**. Saikia laid credit squarely at ICC Chairman Jay Shah's feet, noting the consistent thread of taking cricket into new territories and building the pathway toward the Olympics. Translation: this is strategic, not ceremonial. India (No.1 T20 ranking, reigning T20 WC champs) vs Japan (41st, first-ever meeting at this level) — the mismatch is real, but the audience potential is the real asset. **Competitive angle:** This fixture doubles as prep for the Asian Games men's cricket tournament (Aichi-Nagoya, from 19th Sep). India enter at the QF stage, first knockout on 28th Sep. Captain: Shreyas Iyer, VC: Tilak Varma. Sanju Samson and teenage star Vaibhav Sooryavanshi in the squad. Bottom line: India testing combinations against unfamiliar Japanese conditions while Japan gets a once-in-a-lifetime showcase. As Saikli put it — "there is much more to come." Source: Crictracker