A cricket enthusiast’s gesture behind Japan’s historic match against India

By K.R. Nayar

When the Japan cricket team takes on India in a Men’s T20 International cricket match on September 22, 2026, at the Sano International Cricket Ground in Tochigi Prefecture for the Suzuki Cup, it will make cricket enthusiast and Dubai-based businessman Shyam Bhatia a very happy man. To encourage cricket in Japan, way back in 2011, he had distributed cricket kits to children in Japan through his Cricket for Care charity.

What started as a selfless gesture has travelled a remarkable distance - from a cricket kit in the hands of a Japanese child to an international match against one of the world’s cricketing giants. Fifteen years later, when Japan takes on India, Bhatia will have every reason to smile. It is a moment when a small seed planted with kindness has grown into a tree of opportunity. The journey may have taken years, but the reward is a historic occasion for Japanese cricket.

Japanese children with the Shyam Bhatia's Cricket for Care charity kits during the Cricket for Smiles programme  

Bhatia, through his charity, distributes kits to nations where cricket is searching for a place in the sporting landscape and also among underprivileged children. When he distributed the kits in Japan, this nation was just recovering from the aftermath of an earthquake and tsunami. His gesture brought smiles to the faces of children, resulting in the promotion of the Japan Cricket Association (JCA)’s Cricket for Smiles programme.

Sometimes, the biggest contribution to sport is not measured in runs, wickets or trophies. It is measured in the number of young faces that light up when they discover a new game. 

Shyam Bhatia presents his book Portrait of the Game to Naoki Alex Miyaji, CEO of Japan Cricket Association. 

Years ago, this writer had met Naoki Alex Miyaji, the Chief Executive Officer of the JCA, and asked him how the kits distributed by Bhatia’s had helped children in Japan. After explaining that the kits had taken the game to many schools, he said: “Numerous children were in desperate need of something to bring them joy, happiness, and restore their courage. I thank Bhatia for this gesture.”

Japanese kids holding Shyam Bhatia's Cricket for Care bats.

Miyaji recalled the day when, in November 2011, a large truck had pulled up at the office of the Japan Cricket Association. The truck delivered 250 sets of cricket equipment donated by Bhatia. What he actually delivered then was a truckload of hope for the Japanese children.

When I once asked Bhatia why he chose to distribute cricket equipment in a place like Japan where the game wasn’t popular at all, he said: “Through my Cricket for Care charity, I have tried to reach out and help those countries that are striving to make their presence felt in cricket.”

Shyam Bhatia with the Japan Under-19 team that played in the 2024 Under-19 Asia Cup.

Bhatia did not have to wait long to see the fruits of his quiet contribution to Japanese cricket. In 2024, Japan’s budding cricketers qualified for the Under-19 Asia Cup. Miyaji made sure to thank Bhatia on that day through a letter from Japan, which stated: “Your contribution to the game here has played a vital role during the last decade and made a significant contribution to enabling us to qualify for the Under-19 World Cup in 2020.” This letter is prominently displayed in Bhatia’s cricket museum.

Ironically, the Under-19 Asia Cup tournament was held in the UAE, and the Japan Under-19 team that came to take part in this tournament presented Bhatia with an official cap. This tournament was held from November 29 to December 8, at a time when their homeland was experiencing freezing temperatures. But the hearts of the young Japanese cricketers were warmed by the welcome they received from Dubai. Bhatia and G Force Cricket Academy head coach Gopal Jasapara together offered the academy’s training facilities to the Japanese youngsters free of charge.

Japan Under-19 team coach Ardene Ruhode presents Japan's official cap to Shyam Bhatia. 

Ardene Ruhode, a former Zimbabwean first-class cricketer who was the coach of the Japan Under-19 team, said that day: “We cannot thank them enough. This is the most ideal thing for us, just getting off the plane and having people ready to help us with anything.”

Ruhode also mentioned the team rarely gets to practise in proper cricket facilities back home since the sport is still in a nascent stage in Japan. “Bhatia has done a lot for grassroot cricket in Japan. He is one of the good servants of the game. So we are really grateful, and we hope to get continued support going forward,” he added.

Shizuka Miyaji present her bat with her name written in Japanese to Shyam Bhatia 

Bhatia’s support has benefited both men’s and women’s cricket in Japan. Shizuka Miyaji, the first professional cricketer from Japan to play in the FairBreak T20 International, got her initial experience using kits provided by Bhatia. In fact, Shizuka was invited to Bhatia’s cricket museum when she visited Dubai in 2022. She was presented with the famous book on women’s cricket, ‘Skirting the Boundary’, written by woman cricketer and commentator Isabelle Duncan.

Shizuka Miyaji with the book 'Skirting the Boundary' 

I had the opportunity to speak to Miyaji that day and wanted to know how she fell in love with the game, She said: “I began by playing regularly with the cricket kit given by Bhatia, but with the soft ball. Many other women cricketers in Japan had also started playing the game using these kits before progressing to play hard-ball cricket.” Japanese women too regularly play in major international tournaments now.

For Bhatia, who has promoted women’s and men’s cricket, September 22 will remain an unforgettable day when Japan plays India. This match is being held as a celebration of the 75th Anniversary of India-Japan diplomatic relations, but it is also a celebration of a cricket enthusiast’s dream translated to reality by the ever-enthusiastic and hard-working Japan cricket community.