From growing up in Bihar to studying at IIT Kanpur and eventually playing international cricket for Japan, Abhishek Anand has taken an unusual path in the world of cricket.
The 28-year-old player was born in Rohtas and raised in Patna. After completing his higher education at IIT Kanpur, Abhishek Anand moved to Japan for work. What started as a career move eventually opened the door to a new cricketing journey.
After settling in Japan, Abhishek Anand began playing club cricket for Tokyo Falcon Cricket Club. His performances at the domestic level helped him earn an opportunity with Japan’s national team. He became eligible to represent Japan after fulfilling the country’s residency requirement of living there continuously for three years.
His international debut came in May 2025, when he played against the Cook Islands in a T20 international. Since then, he has become part of Japan’s international cricket setup while continuing to balance the sport with his professional career. The all-rounder has played 18 T20Is so far, scoring 275 runs at an international level and his highest score is 55.
Abhishek Anand’s story attracted even more attention ahead of Japan’s first ever men’s T20I against India. The historic match was scheduled for September 22 at the Sano International Cricket Ground in Tochigi. The fixture was part of events marking 75 years of diplomatic relations between India and Japan and was also being played ahead of the cricket competition at the Asian Games.
Despite being born in India and representing Japan, Abhishek Anand was not selected in Japan’s squad for the historic match against India. As a result, he did not get the opportunity to play against the country where he was born. His journey has nevertheless generated interest in India, especially after a video about his background went viral on social media.
Here is the video:
https://www.instagram.com/reels/DddT6z2OKZC/
Click to watch this video directly on Instagram
Abhishek Anand’s story stretches from his childhood in Bihar to his studies at IIT Kanpur and his move to Japan for professional work. Along the way, cricket remained an important part of his life and eventually took him to the international stage.
Today, Abhishek Anand continues to work in Japan while pursuing his cricket career for the country he now represents and we wish him all the luck for this future endeavours.
