India are set to face Japan in Sano in the first-ever international cricket fixture between the two countries, marking a special moment as India and Japan celebrate 75 years of diplomatic relations.
The Indian team arrived in Japan on Sunday ahead of Tuesday’s match. Following the fixture, the squad will travel to Nagoya for the upcoming Asian Games.
Playing cricket in Japan is an unusual experience for Indian cricketers, given that the sport has a relatively limited following in the country. India batter Shreyas Iyer admitted he had never expected to play a cricket match in Japan.
“I never thought about it, but cricket is picking up in every country now, and all the teams are becoming dominant in their own ways. I’m sure this will be an exciting match as well,” Iyer said.
Persistent rain, however, forced India to cancel their training session ahead of the game. The match is scheduled to take place in Sano, around 100 kilometres from Tokyo.
Iyer also spoke positively about his first experience of Japan, praising the people and the hospitality extended to the Indian team.
“It’s beautiful. From the time we landed, we saw that the people were very cordial, generous and helpful in nature, which we see back home as well. The hospitality is brilliant,” he said.
The historic fixture is expected to provide a unique opportunity for cricket fans in Japan while adding another chapter to the sporting ties between the two Asian nations.