From IIT Kanpur to Japan cricket: How Abhishek Anand chased two dreams

For many students, graduating from IIT Kanpur and building a career in technology would be a major achievement in itself. For Abhishek Anand, however, it was only one part of the journey. Alongside his academic and professional life, he continued to pursue the sport he had loved since childhood. That passion eventually took him from IIT Kanpur to Japan's national cricket team. Anand, who completed a BS-MS in Chemistry at IIT Kanpur in 2022, is now a member of the Japan men's national cricket team. The Japan Cricket Association lists him as an Indian-born player, right-handed batter and right-arm medium bowler. He made his international debut against the Cook Islands on May 9, 2025, earning Japan cap number 111.From tennis ball cricket to IIT KanpurAnand's cricket journey did not begin with the kind of professional training that many aspiring cricketers receive.