Japan cricketer Abhishek Anand, 28, has expressed his desire to meet India’s Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and Ishan Kishan ahead of the one-off T20I between Japan and India scheduled for September 22, 2026, at Sano International Cricket Ground. This will be the first senior men’s international match between the two nations. Anand, who was born in Rohtas district of Bihar, shares a common connection with both Indian players through their home state.
Anand, a right-handed batter and right-arm medium pace bowler, made his T20I debut for Japan against Cook Islands on May 9, 2025. In 18 T20 Internationals for Japan, he has scored 275 runs with a highest score of 55. Speaking ahead of the historic match, Anand expressed his admiration for the Indian squad and his eagerness to connect with his fellow Bihari cricketers.
“Currently, everyone’s favourite is Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. But yeah, all the players in the Indian team are equally good. Of course, (I want to meet) my Bihari brothers, Ishan Kishan and Sooryavanshi. We are eagerly waiting to host the Indian team. We are eagerly waiting for this match. And (I hope) the India-Japan bond should stay strong so that we can do well in the future,” Abhishek said as quoted by NDTV Sports.
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Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, born on March 27, 2011, made his T20I debut for India against England in July 2026 at just 15 years and 99 days, becoming the youngest player to represent the Indian team. He plays for Bihar in domestic cricket and made his first-class debut in January 2024. Ishan Kishan has played in his 50th T20I match and captained Jharkhand in the 2025-26 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, leading the team to victory against Haryana by 69 runs.
Anand’s journey to Japanese cricket began unexpectedly during his college years. He graduated from IIT Kanpur with a Chemistry degree in 2022 and initially pursued a corporate career. His transition to international cricket came through a combination of professional opportunity and genuine interest in developing the sport in Japan.
