Tuesday, September 22, 2026, will be a historic day for cricket as India and Japan face each other for the first time. The two Asian sides will collide in a one-off T20I at the Sano International Cricket Ground, Sano, Kanto.

India are overwhelming favourites heading into this clash. This will be a good dress rehearsal for them ahead of the Asian Games, where they will be facing tougher opposition teams. However, the clash on Tuesday will give the Men in Blue a chance to get acclimatised to the conditions. Talking about the Indian team, they have all bases covered, despite the absence of Jasprit Bumrah, Hardik Pandya, and Varun Chakaravarthy.

It will be interesting to see which combination of spinners India play in the one-off game. They have Axar Patel, Ravi Bishnoi, Washington Sundar, and Vipraj Nigam in their ranks. Axar and Bishnoi are the frontrunners as they played together in the last two T20Is against Afghanistan earlier this month. However, giving Nigam a taste of international cricket in this encounter might not be a bad idea. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi could also get a game instead of Sanju Samson, who will be the first-choice opener during the Asian Games.

For Japan, this is a great opportunity for them to test themselves against the reigning T20 World Cup champions. They have a spirited side led by Kendel Fleming and will look to give a good account of themselves. While beating India or even pushing them might sound far-fetched, they will look to do their basics right and give their fans hopes of a bright future.

JPN vs IND 2026: Match Details

Sano International Cricket Ground, Sano: Pitch Report

In the last six matches that have been played at the Sano International Cricket Ground, four have been won by the team batting first. As a result, the team winning the toss on Tuesday will want to bat first and post a massive total. However, India haven’t played at this venue before and to gauge the conditions, they might even opt to have a bowl.

JPN vs IND: Predicted Playing XIs

Japan

Lachlan Yamamoto-Lake, Reo Sakurano-Thomas, Kendel Kadowaki-Fleming (C), Benjamin Ito-Davis, Charlie Hara-Hinze, Ibrahim Takahashi, Alester Kadowaki-Fleming, Wataru Miyauchi (WK), Declan Suzuki-McComb, Makoto Taniyama, Shoma Sugaya-Slater.

India

Abhishek Sharma, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Ishan Kishan, Shreyas Iyer (C), Tilak Varma, Shivam Dube, Washington Sundar, Axar Patel, Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, Ravi Bishnoi.

India meet Zimbabwe at the Harare Sports Club in Harare in the first T20I on Thursday, July 23. This is going to be an important three-match series for both teams.

India are heading into this series on the back of a winless campaign in the United Kingdom in the shortest format. Newly-appointed skipper Shreyas Iyer didn’t have a great start to his tenure. The Men in Blue lost to Ireland 0-2 and in the subsequent series against England, they suffered a 0-4 defeat. Shreyas would be desperate to win his first game as India’s captain.

India have a young side at their disposal, especially in the bowling department. All eyes will be on pacers Ashok Sharma and Mayank Yadav. However, only one of them might get the nod on Thursday. Rinku Singh has returned to the side and it will be interesting to see how India use him. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi will also want to make amends after a scratchy start to his international career.

Meanwhile, Zimbabwe are heading into this contest after losing to Bangladesh 1-2 in a T20I series that concluded last week. There is a lot of potential in the Zimbabwean side. They have a very potent bowling attack, spearheaded by Richard Ngarava and Blessing Muzarabani. Sikandar Raza’s mystery spin will be crucial for the Chevrons.

However, it will be interesting to see whether they play a second spinner in Wellington Masakadza or rely on part-timers like Ryan Burl and Brian Bennett. The latter will also have a key role to play at the top of the order with the bat in hand.

ZIM vs IND 2026: Match Details

Harare Sports Club, Harare: Pitch Report

The Harare Sports Club is expected to provide a balanced surface. While the pacers should generate a good amount of bounce, batters who can get accustomed to the conditions can score a lot of runs. The new ball will be crucial for both teams as the fast bowlers would look to make early inroads. If teams can retain wickets through the middle overs, they can end up with a substantial total.

ZIM vs IND: Predicted Playing XIs

Zimbabwe

Brian Bennett, Tadiwanashe Marumani (WK), Dion Myers, Sikandar Raza (C), Ryan Burl, Wessly Madhevere, Milton Shumba/Wellington Masakadza, Brad Evans, Richard Ngarava, Blessing Muzarabani, Newman Nyamhuri.

India

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan (WK), Shreyas Iyer (C), Tilak Varma, Shivam Dube, Rinku Singh, Harsh Dubey, Prince Yadav, Ravi Bishnoi, Yash Thakur/Ashok Sharma.

India are set to face England in the fourth T20I at the County Ground in Bristol on Thursday, July 9. This is a must-win clash for the Men in Blue, who are trailing 0-2 in the five-match series.

Shreyas Iyer will be desperate to register his first win as captain of the Indian team in the shortest format. After the 0-2 series defeat against Ireland, Iyer and Co. are staring down the barrel in England. The Indian batters need to step up as their performances haven’t been up to the mark.

England, on the other hand, have been brilliant, especially with the ball. Jofra Archer has been exemplary this season inside the powerplay overs. Josh Tongue also bowled a tremendous spell in the last game, bagging a four-for in just his second T20I appearance.

ENG vs IND 2026: Match Details

County Ground, Bristol: Pitch Report

The County Ground in Bristol is expected to have a high-scoring surface. The short boundaries will make the batters happy. However, the fast bowlers are also going to have a say, especially with the swing and seam expected to be on offer. The captain who wins the toss might opt to bat first and set up a huge first-innings total to put the opposition under pressure.

ENG vs IND: Predicted Playing XIs

England

Phil Salt, Jos Buttler (WK), Harry Brook (C), Jacob Bethell, Tom Banton, Sam Curran, Will Jacks, Liam Dawson, Adil Rashid, Jofra Archer, Josh Tongue.

India

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan (WK), Shreyas Iyer (C), Tilak Varma, Shivam Dube, Harshit Rana, Axar Patel, Prince Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Varun Chakaravarthy.