BCCI president Mithun Manhas and Team India players meet Japan ambassador before T20I in Sano

BCCI president Mithun Manhas and members of the Indian team met Japan's Ambassador to India, ONO Keiichi, in Delhi ahead of the historic India-Japan T20I. During the meeting, the ambassador presented The Daruma, a traditional Japanese good-luck charm.

India and Japan will face each other in the Suzuki Cup at the Sano International Cricket Ground in Tochigi on September 22. The match will be the first senior men's international cricket fixture between the two countries and will form the first step of Sport 75, an initiative aimed at promoting sporting cooperation and people-to-people exchanges between India and Japan.

Daruma presented as Japan ambassador hosts BCCI delegation

At the meeting, Ambassador ONO Keiichi presented the group with 'The Daruma', a traditional Japanese good-luck charm. The gesture marked the diplomatic warmth surrounding the fixture, which has been named the Suzuki Cup.

The match on September 22 is part of an initiative called Sport 75, which stems from an agreement reached during a summit between Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The initiative is aimed at promoting human exchanges and cooperation in sports, with India's ambition to host the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2036 noted as part of the broader context.

BCCI Honorary Secretary Devajit Saikia described the occasion as a significant moment for cricket, saying the board was delighted to be part of what he called a historic occasion as the Indian and Japanese men's teams come together for a special T20 International in Japan.

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Manhas on the significance of the India-Japan fixture

Manhas, who was elected as the 37th BCCI president at the board's 94th annual general meeting on September 28, 2025, had earlier described the fixture as a landmark occasion for cricket and an important step in taking the game to new audiences. He noted that bringing the Indian team to Japan presents a wonderful opportunity to showcase the sport, engage with a new generation of fans and support the continued development of cricket in the country.

Manhas has also credited ICC Chairman Jay Shah for the groundwork behind the fixture, stating that the match is a reflection of the vision laid by Shah in taking cricket beyond its traditional strongholds and strengthening its global footprint. He added that Shah's belief in cricket as a truly global sport has helped create a clear direction for the game, particularly with its return to the Olympic programme.