Just 20 months after its T20 World Cup triumph in Barbados, India will defend its crown on home soil. While fans of the Men in Blue will be understandably excited to see their heroes attempt to etch their names into history, the occasion could mark a defining moment in the life of Chennai-born Sabaorish Ravichandran.
Ten days of cricketing action separate Sabaorish from a goal that was unlikely ever to be realised – playing in the 2026 T20 World Cup in his native land.
Sabaorish is part of the Japan team vying to secure one of the final three spots available in the biennial tournament. Standing in front of them in the Asia–EAP (East Asia-Pacific) Regional Final are the regular Asian powerhouses, UAE, host Oman and Nepal. While the pathway to the pipe dream seems too steep to be realised, the 33-year-old is not one to concede defeat before the ball gets rolling.
The East Asian side had participated in the previous iteration of the EAP Regional final, finishing runner-up to Papua New Guinea (PNG), which proceeded to participate in the T20 World Cup in the US and the Caribbean.
Japan had participated in the previous iteration of the EAP Regional final, finishing runner-up to Papua New Guinea (PNG).
| Photo Credit:
Japan Cricket
Japan had participated in the previous iteration of the EAP Regional final, finishing runner-up to Papua New Guinea (PNG).
| Photo Credit:
Japan Cricket
“It was the first time we got a taste of playing a team at PNG’s level, but we had been playing together only for a year. Cricket is a team sport where the more you play together, the better you get. We are in a much better place now,” Sabaorish said during a chat with Sportstar.
“T20 is anybody’s game. Nepal recently proved that against the West Indies. We are hoping to cause some big upsets in the upcoming qualifiers. It will be a monumental achievement to qualify for the World Cup,” he added.
A road less travelled
Sabaorish’s journey from the Dunlop ground in Ambattur to the Sano International Cricket Ground in Japan was one laden with serendipity. The all-rounder took up the sport as a schoolboy, climbing up the age groups of the Thiruvallur district team before academics and the obligation to find employment took precedence.
Once rubbing shoulders in junior cricket with the Baba brothers, Indrajith and Aparajith, and India international Vijay Shankar, Sabaorish’s cricket was now confined to corporate leagues. That was until work took him to the land of the rising sun in 2015.
With time to kill on the weekends, the leg-spinner traversed around his new habitat, looking to reconnect with the game. With stats from his TNCA division cricket days to advocate, Sabaorish managed to find a berth at Tigers Cricket Club, a second division side.
“I first joined the team as the 12th man. I got to play when there weren’t enough people in the Playing XI. I scored around 70 runs and picked up three wickets in my first match. There was no looking back after that,” he recalled.
“I had also mailed the Japan Cricket Association to see if I could play for them, but I had to serve a mandatory three-year residence period before starting,” he added.
Building blocks
After earning promotion to the first division in 2016, it took another five years before Tigers Cricket Club tasted success in the top tier. After being named club captain in 2019, Sabaorish has now transitioned into the role of a selector.
“In Japan, we pay to play cricket. A yearly membership fee is taken to account for the cricket balls, grounds and umpires. Back in 2016, there were people selected in the team only because they had a car,” the all-rounder said, explaining the rigours behind sustaining club cricket in the Associate country.
“Playing cricket here is hard work. A lot of effort has to be put into the club level, but you get a lot of satisfaction,” he added.
After serving his mandatory residence requirement, Sabaorish made his T20I debut for Japan against Indonesia in 2022. Three years and 39 classified T20Is later, the leg-break bowler has become a senior statesman in the squad. A career average of 12.10 with the ball and an economy rate of 4.87 shed light on his effectiveness in the shortest format.
After serving his mandatory residence requirement, Sabaorish made his T20I debut for Japan against Indonesia in 2022.
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement
After serving his mandatory residence requirement, Sabaorish made his T20I debut for Japan against Indonesia in 2022.
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement
“When we started in 2022, we were ranked 60. Now, we have slowly moved up to rank 42. Last year, we played Hong Kong and Singapore. We came very close to beating them. The more we play against better teams, the better the exposure will be,” Sabaorish said.
The preparation ahead of the decisive tournament has also been very positive, Sabaorish says. The side undertook a tour of Sri Lanka in August, playing against developmental squads and club sides, helping them acclimatise to the weather and pitch conditions they will face in Oman.
“It would have been better if we had faced opposition very similar to the levels of Nepal or Kuwait (their opponents in the group stage of the qualifier). But Sri Lanka still boasts excellent grassroots teams, where players play textbook cricket. It was an enriching experience,” he said.
Japan will not have to look too far back for motivation. Italy, ranked 28th in the world, braved all odds earlier this year to seal its place in the T20 spectacle. Sabaorish will hope his side can accomplish something similar — defy the expected and propel him towards his utopian dream.
Published on Oct 08, 2025
