Delhi Capitals have partnered with The British School in Tokyo (BST) to introduce cricket to young students in Japan, with backing from the Japan Cricket Association (JCA). The initiative marks one of the Indian Premier League franchise's most ambitious grassroots outreach efforts beyond the subcontinent, arriving at a pivotal moment for the sport's global expansion.

Why the Timing Matters

The partnership lands just ahead of a historic week for India-Japan cricket. The Indian women's team is scheduled to face hosts Japan in the Asian Games quarter-finals on Friday, 18 September, while the Indian men's team will take on Japan in the Suzuki Cup T20 International on 22 September at the Sano International Cricket Ground in Tochigi Prefecture. Cricket's return to the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games — and its confirmed inclusion in the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics — has amplified interest in growing the sport across non-traditional markets, and Japan is increasingly seen as one of the more receptive.

First Initiative: Anju Jain's Workshop at BST

As the opening move under the partnership, former India captain and Delhi Capitals Women's Assistant Coach Anju Jain visited BST in September to conduct cricket workshops for primary and secondary school students. Jain, a former international wicketkeeper-batter who captained India at the 2000 Women's World Cup and is an Arjuna Award recipient, walked students through the fundamentals of the game, drawing on decades of playing and coaching experience at the highest level.

What the Partnership Plans Next

The collaboration is designed to expand well beyond introductory sessions. Plans include further coaching clinics, player interaction events, technical guidance for school coaches, and structured support for student-led cricket programmes at BST. The phased approach signals that both parties view this as a long-term investment in the sport rather than a one-off promotional exercise.

Ian Clayton, Principal of The British School in Tokyo, said the tie-up could broaden students' sense of what the sport can offer. 'Cricket has a wonderful ability to bring people together across cultures and generations. We are proud of our connection to the game and excited by the opportunity to work with Anju and Delhi Capitals to help inspire its future in Japan. Most importantly, we want our students to see where passion, dedication and ambition can take them,' he said.

Delhi Capitals CEO Sunil Gupta framed Japan as a meaningful emerging market for the franchise. 'Japan is an exciting market for cricket, and we see a great opportunity to contribute to its growth at the grassroots level. Through our partnership with The British School in Tokyo, we want to bring our experience and expertise closer to young players and give them the opportunity to learn from people who have played and coached the game at the highest level,' Gupta said.

Delhi Capitals' Existing Japan Connection

The franchise already has a thread linking it to Japanese cricket. Pacer Ahilya Chandel, who joined Delhi Capitals as a net bowler during WPL 2025, is one of the few bowlers globally to have claimed a double hat-trick in Women's T20 Internationals. That connection lends the BST partnership an authenticity that purely commercial tie-ups often lack.

With cricket building visible momentum in Japan — through the Asian Games, the Olympic cycle, and now grassroots school programmes — Delhi Capitals' move positions the franchise as a proactive stakeholder in the sport's next frontier.