From Googling Cricket in Japan to Facing India: Abhishek Anand’s Unusual Cricket Journey
For Abhishek Anand, Japan was never an obvious cricket destination. The Bihar-born cricketer knew the game through the lens of Indian cricket, but before accepting a job in Japan, he had to find out how much of a cricket ecosystem actually existed there.
Xtratime Webdesk: For Abhishek Anand, Japan was never an obvious cricket destination. The Bihar-born cricketer knew the game through the lens of Indian cricket, but before accepting a job in Japan, he had to find out how much of a cricket ecosystem actually existed there.
Japan had a cricket team, a developing domestic structure and, at the time, had qualified for an East Asia-Pacific World Cup qualifier. Anand eventually moved to Japan, joined the Tokyo Falcons Cricket Club and worked his way into the national setup. He made his T20I debut in 2025.
But there is one twist to the story: Abhishek himself will not be on the field when India and Japan meet on September 22. He is not part of Japan’s 15-member squad for the historic T20I. He is, however, expected to remain around the team and witness the occasion from close quarters.
That makes the moment slightly unusual. A cricketer who moved from India to Japan, built a career in the Japanese cricket system and eventually represented the country internationally will now watch Japan take on the country where his own cricket journey began.
On September 22, India will play Japan in the first-ever men's T20I between the two countries at the Sano International Cricket Ground. For Japan, the fixture is not simply another international game. It is an opportunity to expose a developing cricket culture to one of the sport's biggest audiences. And that culture is increasingly connected to India.
The numbers also show how much work remains. Japan currently has around 7,300 registered players and 16 cricket grounds, with the Japan Cricket Association trying to build the sport in a country where baseball and football dominate the sporting landscape. Anand's story adds a human face to that growth.
Japan's cricket community features prominent Indian-origin players like Abhishek Anand, while India's massive cricket culture, passionate fanbase, and rising competitive interest are significantly boosting the sport's global visibility.
There is also a personal connection, adding another layer to Abhishek’s anticipation. His current favourite Indian player is 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, the teenage sensation who has already made his international debut for India. Abhishek, who comes from Bihar, is keen to meet both Sooryavanshi and fellow Bihari Ishan Kishan when the Indian team arrives in Japan. “Currently, everyone's favourite is Vaibhav Sooryavanshi,” Abhishek said, while also expressing his excitement about meeting his “Bihari brothers”.
So, while India-Japan may be a historic fixture on the international calendar, Anand's journey shows what sits underneath it: a sport slowly finding space in Japan, with Indian cricket helping open that door.
