Japan's political lobbying secured India T20 fixture before Asian Games

Japan secured a T20 fixture against India through political lobbying that began at the start of 2026 and involved the foreign ministers of both countries. Japan foreign minister Toshimitsu Motegi met Indian external affairs minister S Jaishankar in January, with Motegi presenting a replica Japan cricket shirt and receiving a bat signed by the Indian team. The Tochigi 5th District, which Motegi represents, includes Sano, the venue for the match.

Japan rebuilt the Sano pitch using locally sourced clay that matched conditions at the Asian Games venues in Aichi-Nagoya. A Sri Lankan groundsman, Mahesh Bopage, assisted with the preparation. The match went ahead despite Typhoon Dujuan threatening to wash out the fixture, with India winning by two runs after setting Japan a rain-adjusted target of 33.

The fixture formed part of celebrations marking 75 years of diplomatic ties between Tokyo and New Delhi in 2027. Japan, ranked 41st in the world, has never reached the T20 World Cup qualifying tournament.