Bihar brothers to reunite as India prepares for one-off T20I against Japan
Japan cricketer Abhishek Anand is looking forward to meeting India’s Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and Ishan Kishan before the historic one-off T20I between the teams. The match will be played on September 22, 2026, at Sano International Cricket Ground and marks the first senior men’s international meeting between Japan and India.
Anand, 28, was born in Rohtas, Bihar, giving him a shared connection with both Indian cricketers. The right-handed batter and right-arm medium-pace bowler made his Japan T20I debut against Cook Islands on May 9, 2025. He has since featured in 18 T20Is, scoring 275 runs with a highest score of 55.
Anand wants to meet his Bihari counterparts
Ahead of the fixture, Anand spoke about his excitement at hosting India and singled out Sooryavanshi and Kishan as players he hopes to meet. The Japan international also praised the quality within the Indian squad while highlighting the connection created by their shared roots in Bihar. NDTV quoted Abhishek saying,
"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."
Sooryavanshi, born on March 27, 2011, made his India T20I debut against England in July 2026 at 15 years and 99 days. He also represents Bihar in domestic cricket and made his first-class debut in January 2024.
Kishan, meanwhile, has represented India in T20I cricket and completed his 50th appearance in the format. He also captained Jharkhand during the 2025-26 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, guiding them to a 69-run victory over Haryana.
Anand’s own route into Japanese cricket began during his college years. He graduated from IIT Kanpur with a Chemistry degree in 2022 before entering the corporate sector. He later moved into cricket, eventually earning international recognition with Japan. The September 22 fixture will now provide him an opportunity to share the field’s wider occasion with two fellow Bihari cricketers.