Japan's captain Kendel Kadowaki-Fleming believes the historic T20I against India could be a huge boost to cricket development in Japan. India and Japan play T20I for the first time on Tuesday at Sano International Stadium in Japan in a landmark match for Japanese cricket.
The match was a moment of great significance for the Japan Cricket Association (JCA), whose CEO Naoki Alex Miyaji had worked to make India-Japan cricket a reality. Kendel said Miyaji had discussed the possibility of hosting India in Japan for a game after Japan was selected to host the 2026 Asian Games.
“The CEO has had this dream for a long time,” Kendel said on the eve of the match. He said Miyaji had talked about bringing India to Japan and that when the match was confirmed that it was a special moment for everyone involved.
For Japan's men's cricket team, facing a full Indian side will be an opportunity unlike any they have ever had. India are one of the greatest names in international cricket and a match against the three-time T20 World Cup champions will draw huge attention in Japan.
Kendel also highlighted the work of the JCA and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to organise the match. The proposal was made to many people before the match could be completed, he said.
Kendel said it’s been ‘a huge effort from a lot of people’ to make it happen,’ and while he paid tribute to the BCCI for taking Japan’s offer, he also pointed out the JCA leadership, including CEO Naoki Alex Miyaji, for bringing the historic encounter to fruition.
The Japan captain believes that the significance of the match extends beyond the match on the field. The match will bring cricket a lot more attention in Japan, Kendel says, and that the match will be watched by fans in general and will encourage younger people to play cricket more.
“It’s got the potential to accelerate the growth of cricket across the country,” he said. Kendel also referenced the expected number of people coming and the quality of players involved to make this one memorable for Japanese cricket.
The match also gives Japan’s players the chance to share the field with some of the biggest names in the Indian T20 setup. India come into this match having already won a 3-0 T20I series over Afghanistan. Abhishek Sharma was one of the star performers in that series, with a record 108 in the final match.
Jasprit Bumrah is also an important visitor. The India pace spearhead has returned to action and Japan's players will have the chance to face one of the most recognised fast bowlers in the modern game. For an emerging team trying to get a foothold on the international stage, playing against India's world class players is very beneficial.
Despite this gulf in experience between the two teams, Kendel said Japan will not be intimidated by the occasion. India is surreal to the Japanese players, Japan will not be, he said, and his team will be competitive in the match but he wants to see the game played in a competitive manner.
“It still does sound quite surreal to be hearing about them playing here in Japan,” Kendel said. But he said the Japanese team won’t be deterred by India’s reputation, and it would concentrate on the best possible effort.
As such, India-Japan T20I is more than a one-off international match. It is another opportunity for India to prepare and compete in the Asian Games environment. For Japan, it is a historic opportunity to demonstrate its cricketing ambitions in front of a larger audience.
This match could also go hand in hand with Tuesday’s result. Greater visibility, greater local interest and the opportunity for younger Japanese players to see international stars playing in their country could help develop the sport. Japan’s cricket administrators and players will hope the landmark India encounter will be a template for future growth in their sport.
