When India travel to established cricketing countries, there is usually enough footage to study the opposition, understand individual players and prepare for what awaits them. Japan presents a different challenge.

When the two teams meet for the first time in a T20I in Sano on Tuesday, India will be stepping largely into the unknown.

Captain Shreyas Iyer admitted their initial glimpse of the hosts has been limited. “I saw a little bit of reels going here and there. But yes, we will be doing our studies and knowing about the players more. And super excited for the game tomorrow. Hopefully it doesn’t rain, and all the viewers and the spectators who would be coming to the stadium will get a nice competitive game,” he said at a press conference on Monday.

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The unfamiliarity extends beyond the opposition. Iyer said playing in Japan was a different experience from India’s regular overseas tours, and that adapting quickly to the surroundings would be part of the challenge. “It’s completely different from what we’ve been used to doing in terms of going to Australia, England, New Zealand. It’s our very first time, and the culture and the people are very different in terms of how they are, in terms of discipline. So I am someone who loves to embrace new culture and get used to the vibe and the accommodation as quickly as possible. So this is a new challenge for us and definitely looking forward to it,” he added.

Iyer also acknowledged that the conditions and the surface were unfamiliar to him. “It is going to be a thrilling and exciting match for us. This is the first time we will be playing Japan. I don’t know much about the conditions, the wicket, but looking forward to have a great match,” he said.

For Iyer, the prospect of representing India in Japan was something he had never imagined while growing up, but he felt it was also a reflection of cricket’s growth beyond its traditional countries. “I never thought about it. But yes, I mean, cricket is picking up in every country now. And all the teams are becoming dominant in their own ways. So I’m sure this would be an exciting match as well tomorrow,” he added.

He said he had been impressed by the country and its people since arriving, particularly their cordial and helpful nature. “It’s beautiful. I mean, the time we landed, we saw the people, very cordial, generous and helpful in nature, which we see it back at home as well. The hospitality is brilliant and, yeah, I mean, it’s too early to talk about it, but I’m sure that I’ve heard special things from people about Japan as a country and Tokyo as a city as well. So looking forward to explore more,” he said.