From Chennai to Tokyo: Sabaorish Ravichandran’s Quest for World Cup Glory

Nearly two years after claiming victory in the T20 World Cup in Barbados, India is set to defend its title on home ground. For fans of the Men in Blue, the event promises excitement as their icons strive to cement their legacies in cricket history. Meanwhile, the tournament also represents a potentially pivotal chapter in the life of Chennai native Sabaorish Ravichandran.

The upcoming ten days of cricket could bring Sabaorish closer to his ambitious dream of playing in the 2026 T20 World Cup in his homeland—a feat many might have deemed unlikely.

Sabaorish is a member of the Japan cricket team, contending for one of the final three qualifying spots in the biennial tournament. However, challenging teams like the UAE, host Oman, and Nepal stand in their way in the Asia–EAP (East Asia-Pacific) Regional Final. Though the path seems daunting, the 33-year-old remains undeterred and resolute.

Previously, the East Asian team participated in the EAP Regional final, finishing second to Papua New Guinea (PNG), which went on to compete in the T20 World Cup in the US and Caribbean.

“It was a new experience playing against a team of PNG’s caliber, as we had only been playing together for a year. Cricket is a team sport, and playing together more helps improve performance. We are much more prepared now,” Sabaorish mentioned in an interview with Sportstar.

“T20 is a game of surprises. Just look at how Nepal recently upset the West Indies. We aim to create some major surprises in the upcoming qualifiers. Qualifying for the World Cup would be a tremendous achievement,” he added.

A Unique Journey

Sabaorish’s path from the cricket fields in Ambattur to the Sano International Cricket Ground in Japan has been filled with unexpected opportunities. Beginning as a schoolboy cricketer, he progressed through the ranks of the Thiruvallur district team before life’s practical demands took center stage.

Formerly playing alongside well-known names like the Baba brothers, Indrajith and Aparajith, and Indian international Vijay Shankar, Sabaorish’s cricket activity was initially limited to corporate leagues until his career moved him to Japan in 2015.

In search of cricketing opportunities on weekends, the leg-spinner reconnected with the sport in his new environment. With his past TNCA division cricket experience, he secured a spot at Tigers Cricket Club, a second-division team.

“I started off as the 12th man with the team and only got a chance to play when the team was short on players. I scored about 70 runs and took three wickets in my first game. After that, there was no turning back,” he reminisced.

“I also reached out to the Japan Cricket Association to explore playing for them, but I had to fulfill a three-year residency requirement first,” he remarked.

Foundation Building

After progressing to the first division in 2016, it took another five years for Tigers Cricket Club to achieve success in the top tier. Appointed club captain in 2019, Sabaorish has since taken on the role of a selector.

“In Japan, players finance their own participation in cricket. Annual membership fees cover expenses like cricket balls, grounds, and umpires. Back in 2016, team selections sometimes depended on whether a player had a car,” he explained about the challenges of sustaining club cricket in an Associate nation.

“Playing cricket here demands effort, but it offers immense satisfaction,” he added.

After completing the residence requirement, Sabaorish debuted in T20I for Japan against Indonesia in 2022. Three years and 39 T20Is later, the leg-spinner stands as a seasoned member of the squad, with a career bowling average of 12.10 and an economy rate of 4.87 in the shortest format.

“We started ranked 60th in 2022 and have slowly climbed to 42nd. Last year, we came close to defeating Hong Kong and Singapore. Playing against stronger teams offers valuable exposure,” Sabaorish said.

Preparation for the decisive tournament has been promising, Sabaorish noted. The team toured Sri Lanka in August, facing developmental squads and club teams, helping them acclimatize to conditions similar to those in Oman.

“Though it would have been ideal to face teams at the level of Nepal or Kuwait, Sri Lanka offers excellent grassroots cricket with textbook players, providing a rich experience,” he said.

The team can draw inspiration from Italy, ranked 28th, which defied expectations earlier this year to secure a spot in the T20 showcase. Sabaorish hopes his team can emulate such success, defying the odds and stepping closer to his ultimate dream.

Published on Oct 08, 2025