New Delhi, September 21, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
For Japan cricketer Benjamin Ito-Davis, the prospect of facing India in a historic one-off men’s T20I has turned months of anticipation into reality, with the two teams set to meet in Sano on Tuesday.
Ito-Davis has spent the past three weeks coming to terms with the fact that players he has watched on television will soon be standing just 22 yards away from him. The fixture, however, faces a possible disruption from Typhoon Dujuan.
With media commitments and training occupying the Japan squad in recent days, the players have been soaking in the experience of hosting the current T20 World Cup holders on home soil.
“We found out about this happening when we first heard some little noise a month ago. We heard that there might be a possibility and were told to just keep our schedules free and start preparing,” Ito-Davis told IANS.
The final confirmation came around three weeks ago, triggering excitement among the players.
“These are our idols and superstars of cricket, and some of the world’s best players. From always watching them on TV, to finally saying we’re going to be hosting them in Japan, the emotions have been a lot of excitement and just really can’t wait to get started,” he said.
Ito-Davis, like many players in Japan’s small but growing cricket community, follows Indian cricket closely. He watches the IPL and counts Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings among his favourite teams.
Among the Indian players he is particularly eager to meet are Jasprit Bumrah and Sanju Samson.
“I definitely can’t wait to meet them all. But amongst few who come to mind is Jasprit Bumrah. His mentality, calmness and he also seems just as a really kind person. So I really want to meet and talk to him,” he said.
Ito-Davis also hopes Bumrah might share some advice with him.
He added that meeting Samson would be special, particularly because the two are wicketkeepers.
“He’s also a wicketkeeper, and maybe if I’m batting, I’ll be close to him. But, to meet Sanju as well is huge as he’s another one of my idols,” Ito-Davis said.
Japan, ranked 41st in men’s T20Is, enter the contest with growing confidence after defeating Papua New Guinea, Bahrain and Kuwait in May.
Ito-Davis believes those victories have helped change the mindset within the team, although he acknowledged that India represent a significantly tougher challenge.
“Although it is a big game for us as individuals and as a team, it’s still to just focus on what we have as our strengths and I always think we have to just play ball by ball,” he said.
“It doesn’t really matter who is bowling the ball or who you’re bowling to. At the end of the day, it’s you against the ball,” he added.
For Japan’s players, the challenge extends beyond the field. Ito-Davis lives in Chiba, east of Tokyo, and travelling to the international ground where the national team trains can take around three hours each way by train.
“It is quite a tiring task and can be exhausting, but this is the small cost that we are and can take to have the chance to play against India. So, small price to pay, but certainly willing to do it,” he said.
Despite limited infrastructure, Japan’s strength has come from continuity. Many members of the squad have played together for three or four years, giving the team familiarity with each other’s roles and strengths.
“I think we have become a really strong team and hopefully this is just sort of a start and we keep building from here,” Ito-Davis said.
He believes facilities remain the biggest requirement for cricket to grow in Japan.
“This is our biggest obstacle right now – we’re just quite short on facilities around Japan,” he said, calling for more nets and grounds to make the sport more accessible to children.
Ito-Davis began playing cricket in his backyard, where his father bowled to him. He later developed his game at school and with the Chiba Sharks before earning a place in Japan’s national set-up. He made his international debut around two years ago.
Away from playing, Ito-Davis also handles much of Japan cricket’s social media activity on Instagram and X, helping promote the sport to an audience largely unfamiliar with cricket.
Among his childhood cricketing idols was former Australia all-rounder Shane Watson. More recently, he has admired India great Virat Kohli for his intensity and approach to the game.
“I love his energy, his passion for the game, and his relentlessness in scoring runs. He never backs down a challenge and he’s always there for the fight,” Ito-Davis said.
Ito-Davis is also an assistant coach with Japan’s women’s team. However, preparations for the men’s historic encounter with India kept him away from the women’s Asian Games quarter-final against Harmanpreet Kaur-led India on Friday.
For Ito-Davis, cricket is ultimately about pursuing a dream.
“Well, this is my dream. I love cricket and just to be around every day. It’s a lot of fun. That’s it. There’s nothing else,” he said.
And while the result against India will matter, Ito-Davis believes Japan’s wider success should be measured by the impact the occasion has on the growth of cricket in the country.
“If we’re able to inspire one kid or one boy or girl to pick up the sport and play cricket, because they’ve watched these games or watched us play, then I think that’s the biggest success story,” he said.
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