Bihar-born IITian Abhishek Anand: how cricket led him to Japan's national team
Synopsis
A two-hour campus placement decision — made by a Bihar-born IITian who Googled cricket in Japan before saying yes — led Abhishek Anand to become one of Japan's most intriguing international cricketers. With 18 T20Is since his 2025 debut and a full-time job at Accenture Japan, his story is one of the more unlikely paths in global cricket.
Key Takeaways
Abhishek Anand , born in Rohtas, Bihar , is an IIT graduate who now plays international cricket for Japan .
He accepted an Accenture Japan placement offer within two hours after researching cricket's prospects in Japan.
He joined the Tokyo Falcon Cricket Club and earned a Japan national team call-up in 2025 after three consistent seasons.
Anand has played 18 T20 Internationals for Japan, scoring at least one half-century and bowling medium pace.
He is not in the squad for Japan's historic one-off T20I against India at Sano International Cricket Ground , marking 75 years of India-Japan diplomatic ties.
He balances a professional career at Accenture Japan with his international cricket commitments.
A love for cricket and a two-hour decision changed everything for Abhishek Anand, a Bihar-born IIT graduate who traded a comfortable career in India for the prospect of growing the game in Japan. Since making his international debut in 2025, Anand has gone on to represent Japan in 18 T20 Internationals, a journey he himself calls 'quite unbelievable.'
The Two-Hour Decision That Changed Everything
The turning point came during campus placements at Anand's IIT, when Accenture Japan visited and extended him an offer. He was given just two hours to decide. His instinct was to stay in India and continue building a cricket career — he had, by his own account, cultivated a strong cricketing environment in college. But rather than dismiss the offer outright, he turned to research.
'I thought of searching for some cricket facts in Japan. 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,' Anand explained. Within those two hours, he accepted the offer and boarded a flight to Japan.
From Tokyo Club Cricket to the National Team
Upon arriving in Japan, Anand wasted no time. He immediately reached out to local clubs and eventually joined the Tokyo Falcon Cricket Club, where his consistent performances over three consecutive seasons caught the attention of the Japan Cricket Association (JCA).
'JCA had an eye on me and how I was performing year by year. So, they reached out to me in the 3rd year and told me that my performance was good,' he recalled. The national call-up followed in 2025. Since his debut, he has scored at least one half-century and occasionally contributes with medium-pace bowling.
Family Expectations vs Personal Passion
Originally from Rohtas district in Bihar and raised in Patna, Anand navigates a familiar tension for first-generation professional cricketers in India — family expectations versus sporting ambition. His family, he notes, insists on a steady job as the primary goal, with cricket as a secondary pursuit. For Anand, the hierarchy is firmly reversed.
'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,' he said. That balance — playing internationals while holding down a professional role at Accenture Japan — defines his daily life.
Japan vs India T20I: Watching From the Sidelines
Anand is not part of the squad for Japan's historic one-off T20 International against India, scheduled for Tuesday, 23 September 2026, at the Sano International Cricket Ground in Sano, Japan. The match commemorates 75 years of diplomatic relations between India and Japan, making it a landmark occasion for cricket in the region.
Despite his absence from the playing XI, Anand says he will be present at the ground. 'I will be around the team, supporting the team. If I am from India, I will support India and Japan. Basically, I will be supporting the game of cricket,' he said. His sentiment captures the unique position he occupies — a product of Indian cricket culture who has become an ambassador for the sport in Japan.
What Comes Next for Anand
With 18 T20Is already to his name and a growing profile in associate cricket, Anand says he intends to sustain his dual career for the foreseeable future. 'I will continue my cricket career along with my job and see if I can grow further in cricket; then we will see what the future holds,' he said. For Japanese cricket, players like Anand — skilled, technically grounded, and committed to the sport's development — represent exactly the kind of foundation the JCA needs as the nation eyes greater global exposure.
Point of View
Notably, by a World Cup qualifier result found during a two-hour internet search. What it also reveals is a structural gap: India's domestic pipeline is so competitive that technically skilled cricketers who cannot break through at the state level have no recognised pathway, leaving their talent to benefit other nations. The JCA's patient three-year observation before offering a national contract is itself a model worth noting — it suggests associate cricket governance is maturing in ways that deserve more coverage than it typically receives.
NationPress
21 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Abhishek Anand, the Japan cricketer?
Abhishek Anand is a Bihar-born IIT graduate who moved to Japan after accepting a campus placement offer from Accenture Japan. He made his Japan T20 International debut in 2025 and has since played 18 T20Is, also contributing with medium-pace bowling.
How did Abhishek Anand end up playing cricket for Japan?
During campus placements, Anand was offered a role at Accenture Japan and given two hours to decide. He researched cricket in Japan, found that the Japanese team had qualified for the East Asia-Pacific World Cup qualifier that year, and accepted the offer. He then joined the Tokyo Falcon Cricket Club and earned a national call-up after three strong seasons.
Is Abhishek Anand playing in the India vs Japan T20I in Sano?
No, Anand is not part of Japan's squad for the historic one-off T20I against India at the Sano International Cricket Ground. He has said he will be present at the ground to support both teams and the game of cricket.
What is the significance of the India vs Japan T20I in Sano?
The match marks 75 years of diplomatic relations between India and Japan and is being played at the Sano International Cricket Ground. It is considered a landmark occasion for the growth of cricket in Japan.
How does Abhishek Anand balance cricket and his job in Japan?
Anand continues to work at Accenture Japan while representing the Japan national cricket team. He has said cricket is his primary priority and his job is secondary, though his family prefers the reverse. He intends to maintain both commitments for the foreseeable future.
