Love for cricket and hope for the sport’s future in Japan took a Bihar-born IITian, Abhishek Anand, to the Land of the Rising Sun.
“So, the journey in Japan is quite unbelievable. “Then, I thought of searching for some cricket facts in Japan. So, fortunately, that year the Japanese team qualified for the East Asia-Pacific World Cup qualifier. I felt that there was hope for cricket in Japan as well. So, after seeing all this news, I thought about going to Japan to explore the opportunity there. However, upon arriving in Japan, he began searching for clubs and performed so well that he earned a call-up to the national team. “As soon as I came to Japan, I started reaching out to clubs. Then, I came here and joined Tokyo Falcon Cricket Club. “Then, I started playing for the Tokyo Falcon Cricket Club, and my journey in Japan started from there. JCA (Japan Cricket Association) had an eye on me and how I was performing year by year. So, keep practising hard and doing your best. “So, I continued to play well. Abhishek has lived in Patna since childhood, but he is originally from Rohtas. He highlighted that his family wanted him to have a backup job. “The first priority for them is that I have a backup job, and that’s what I am doing as well. And (for them) secondary is cricket. But for me, it’s the opposite – Primary is cricket, and secondary is job. But anyway, if I am able to manage both jobs and cricket, they are happy with that. “See, I am excited about that match. Still, I am not in the squad, but I will be around the team, supporting the team. If I am from India, I will support India and Japan. Basically, it should be a good match between Japan and India.
I never thought that I would play in the Japan team,” Abhishek, who has played 18 T20Is for Japan, told IANS. After 2 hours of research, I accepted the offer and came to Japan,” he added. Then, I continued to play well for 3 consecutive years. Then, in 2025, I was selected for the national team,” he highlighted. Abhishek is not in the squad for the historic one-off T20I against India, which will be played on Tuesday here at the Sano International Cricket Ground and will mark 75 years of diplomatic relations between the two nations; however, he says he would be around the team and would be cheering for both teams.
So, they reached out to me in the 3rd year and told me that my performance was good. So, they told me, ‘We want you to be part of our national team. So, no issue,” he said. I will be supporting the game of cricket,” he said.
