Sano, September 22, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
India captain Shreyas Iyer praised Japan for their spirited performance after India survived a tense two-run finish against the hosts in a rain-affected five-over-a-side T20 international in Sano on Tuesday.
The match began after an almost two-and-a-half-hour delay caused by a wet outfield and was eventually reduced to five overs per side. India were bowled out for 32 in four overs, with Japan’s spinners making effective use of the conditions. Iyer top-scored with 16 off 12 balls.
Japan came close to chasing down the revised target of 33 but finished two runs short as India held their nerve. Washington Sundar claimed two wickets, while Axar Patel helped keep Japan’s scoring under control.
Iyer said the efforts of everyone involved in staging the match made the contest particularly memorable despite the difficult conditions.
He also congratulated Japan and India on 75 years of diplomatic relations and said the Indian team was determined to ensure that the spectators and supporters who had waited for the contest got to witness a match.
Reflecting on Japan’s performance, Iyer said the hosts were “brilliant” and praised both teams for making the five-over contest an exciting one.
The victory was India’s 200th in T20 internationals, including wins achieved through Super Overs. For Japan, the performance provided encouragement ahead of their Asian Games campaign.
Iyer, who is leading the Indian side after the team’s recent T20 World Cup triumph and Asian Games gold-medal success, said captaincy was a responsibility he enjoyed and felt brought out his best under pressure.
India will now shift their focus to the Asian Games campaign. Iyer said the team would concentrate on assessing conditions in Nagoya and taking the tournament one step at a time rather than looking too far ahead.
He stressed the importance of staying focused on the present and maintaining high standards throughout the campaign.
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