IND vs JPN T20 2026 Live Streaming: When and where to watch India vs Japan cricket match, weather update, pitch report and playing XI

India will face Japan in a historic one-off T20I at the Sano International Cricket Ground in Sano, Tochigi, on Tuesday, September 22. The match is the first men's international cricket meeting between India and Japan and comes ahead of India's Asian Games 2026 campaign. The fixture is also part of celebrations marking 75 years of diplomatic relations between India and Japan.

The match is scheduled to start at 9:30 AM IST, or 1:00 PM local time in Japan, with the toss at 9:00 AM IST. Shreyas Iyer will lead India, while Kendel Kadowaki-Fleming will captain Japan. India come into the match after a 3-0 T20I series win over Afghanistan, while Japan will get a rare opportunity to face a full ICC member at home.

India vs Japan T20 live streaming: When and where to watch

The India vs Japan one-off T20I will be broadcast live in India on the Star Sports Network. The match will also be available for live streaming on FanCode's app and website. ITW Universe holds the global production, broadcast distribution and commercial marketing rights for the fixture.

The match begins at 9:30 AM IST, with the toss scheduled for 9:00 AM IST. In Japan, play is scheduled to begin at 1:00 PM local time.

India vs Japan T20 weather update today

Weather is one of the main concerns around the match after heavy rain linked to Typhoon Dujuan affected the Kanto region and disrupted India's training session before the game. A Japan vs Hong Kong match at the same ground was also abandoned without a ball being bowled because of the weather.

The latest forecast for Sano indicates improving conditions around the start of play, although showers are possible later in the day. The wet conditions from the previous days could also leave the outfield and playing surface under pressure. A forecast published ahead of the match had also indicated cloudy conditions and a chance of drizzle in Sano.

India vs Japan T20 pitch report

The Sano International Cricket Ground is hosting a major men's international match for the first time in this India-Japan contest. Recent rain is likely to make the condition of the outfield an important factor before the toss.

The actual behaviour of the pitch will depend heavily on how much rain the ground receives before the match and how much preparation the ground staff are able to complete. If the surface remains damp, bowlers could get some assistance early, while a dry pitch would provide batters a better opportunity to score freely.

India vs Japan T20 squads

India's squad: Sanju Samson, Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, captain Shreyas Iyer, Shivam Dube, Ishan Kishan, Axar Patel, Ravi Bishnoi, Yash Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, Washington Sundar, Vipraj Nigam and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. Japan's squad: Kendel Kadowaki-Fleming, Shirai Patmore, Alester Fleming, Benjamin Ito Davis, Reo Sakurano Thomas, Kohei Kubota, Wataru Miyauchi, Declan Suzuki and Lachlan Yamamoto-Lake.

India vs Japan T20 Playing 11:Expected India playing 11

Shreyas Iyer (c), Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Ishan Kishan (wk), Shivam Dube, Washington Sundar, Ravi Bishnoi, Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh and Yash Thakur.

Expected Japan playing 11

Kendel Kadowaki-Fleming (c), Shirai Patmore (wk), Alester Fleming, Benjamin Ito-Davis, Reo Sakurano-Thomas, Ibrahim Takahashi, Declan Suzuki, Kohei Kubota, Makoto Taniyama, Charlie Hara-Hinze and Jake Kusuda-Nairn.

India vs Japan T20 match significance

The match has significance beyond the result because it is the first senior men's international cricket meeting between the two countries. Japan's cricket authorities have been working to increase the sport's visibility in a country where baseball and football remain much more established.

For India, the match is part of preparations for the Asian Games 2026, where the men's cricket campaign is scheduled to begin with the quarter-finals on September 28. India are also the reigning T20 world champions and will enter the match with several established international players in their squad.