Indian Cricket Team's 1st T20I Match vs Every Opposition

A graphic of Shreyas Iyer with Japan captain Kendel Kadowaki-Fleming (Source: CREX)

India and Japan are set to face each other for the first time in a T20I on September 22 at the Sano International Cricket Ground in Tochigi Prefecture. The special fixture is scheduled to commemorate the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between India and Japan.

The match, to be played under the banner of the ‘Suzuki Cup’, comes ahead of the men’s cricket competition at the Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, which begins on September 19.

Historic India-Japan T20I: Big step for cricket on global stage

BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia on Monday, September 7, 2026, said the historic one-off T20I between India and Japan this month will be a significant moment in cricket’s journey to become a global sport by connecting with a new audience.

Mr Saikia said the match is an effort by ICC chairman Jay Shah to take cricket to newer territories.

“Cricket’s global journey is being shaped by moments that take the game beyond its traditional boundaries.”

“The India–Japan T20I match on 22nd September ’26 is one such moment taking international cricket to Japan, connecting with a new audience and strengthening the game’s presence in a region with immense potential, Devajit Saikia wrote on X.

Also read: India's Record In One-Off T20I Matches Ahead Of Historic Japan Encounter

It is worth noting that the match will also help India acclimatise to Japanese conditions and give them valuable game time to fine-tune combinations and build momentum ahead of the Asian Games 2026.

Seeded directly into the knockout stage, India will begin their Asian Games campaign in the quarterfinals on September 28.

The Indian team will be led by Shreyas Iyer, with Tilak Varma as his deputy. Moreover, Sanju Samson and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi are among the key names in the squad.

While the India-Japan clash will mark a first in their T20I history, India have already faced a long list of opponents in the shortest format, with each rivalry beginning with its own historic first encounter.

That being said, let’s take a look at India’s first T20I against every opponent.

India’s first T20I match vs all opponents

While the first meetings tell us when India’s T20I rivalries began, their overall head-to-head records reveal which opponents the Men in Blue have dominated the most.

Which team has India enjoyed the best head-to-head record against in T20Is?

Team India is enjoying a dream run in the shortest format of the game. Although the Men in Blue have seen three different captains, transitioning from Rohit Sharma to Suryakumar Yadav to Shreyas Iyer, since the end of 2023, they have achieved a flurry of records. They now stand as the team with the most T20 World Cups, 3 (2007, 2004, 2026).

Talking about the terrific record of India in the T20Is, as of September 7, 2026, India has played 37 T20 Internationals against Australia and won 22 matches, with 3 matches ending in no result. This marks their best head-to-head record against an opponent in the format.  

Against which team has India had the worst head-to-head record in T20Is?

Further, the Men in Blue have had the worst win percentage against England (52.94%), winning 16 of 35 matches. Indeed, the Three Lions have tested India the most in the format.  

Very recently, in July 2026, England delivered a ruthless statement in the a T20I at Trent Bridge, thrashing India by 125 runs, their worst-ever T20I defeat in a chase.

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