Rain disrupts preparations as India head to Sano for one-off T20I with Japan

On September 22, 2026 heavy rain in Sano forced India to cancel a training session ahead of the one-off T20I against Japan, and organisers face the prospect of further disruption after Japan’s match with Hong Kong on September 20 was abandoned without a ball being bowled.

The fixture is a rare international assignment for Japan and carries added intrigue for India with VVS Laxman back as head coach for the trip. Selection questions have followed Laxman’s arrival because India under Gautam Gambhir often used three allrounders, whereas Laxman employed four specialist bowlers in Zimbabwe; the team chosen for Sano could indicate which approach he favours.

A probable India XI named in the preview lists Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson, Ishan Kishan, Shreyas Iyer, Tilak Varma, Axar Patel, Shivam Dube, Yash Thakur, Ravi Bishnoi, Arshdeep Singh and Jasprit Bumrah. The preview notes India have been managing Jasprit Bumrah’s workload, but that he has sought more game time, including an appearance in the dead rubber against Afghanistan, and could now bowl in this match.

Japan captain Kendel Kadowaki-Fleming was highlighted as a player to watch; the 30-year-old, born to a Japanese mother and Australian father, is Japan’s highest run-scorer in international cricket and holds an outstanding T20 record. Alongside Lachlan Yamamoto-Lake he compiled an unbeaten 258-run partnership against China in 2024, which the report noted is the biggest partnership for any wicket in a T20 match, and he dropped himself to No. 3 in Japan’s recent match against Hong Kong.

The preview also catalogued Japan’s recent progress, recalling their victory over Papua New Guinea in the Super Six stage of the T20 World Cup East Asia-Pacific Qualifiers, and said Japanese players will gain experience from facing India stars such as Jasprit Bumrah, Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson. It added that technique, preparation, tactics and routines will be on display in a contest that could provide significant learning opportunities for the home side.

The article drew an historical parallel, noting that when Australia travelled to England for the 1930 Ashes the team stopped in Ceylon and played a day of cricket with Don Bradman among the tourists, and described India’s visit to Sano as a similar detour by a leading cricket nation to play in a developing cricket country.

Organisers are waiting to see whether the rain relents and whether the Sano facilities can withstand the conditions so the one-off T20I can go ahead; a washout would deny Japan a rare chance to face the world champions.