So that is it from our side abou the one-off T20I between India and Japan. Meanwhile, you can stay tuned with us for the live coverage of the ongoing Asian Games 2026. Thank you for joinning. 

And finally, India (32/4) have managed to snatch a thrilling two-run victory over Japan (30/3) in the historic one-off T20I match. For India, Shreyas Iyer scored 16, while Washington Sundar took two wickets. For Japan, it was a brilliant outing as they gave a tough time to Indian players. 

Washington Sundar dismisses Kendel Kadowaki-Fleming for 12 as Japan now need 8 runs off 6 balls to win this match. 

JPN 25/3 (4 overs)

Japan get a big over Ravi Bishnoi concedes 10 runs in the over. Kendel Kadowaki-Fleming hits a boundary and regularly rotates the strike with Benjamin Ito-Davis as Japan need 15 runs off the last two overs to win. Can they do it? Only time will tell. 

JPN 18/2 (3 overs)

OUT!!! Washington Sundar strikes on time and dismisses Ibrahim Takahashi for four. After hitting a boundary, Takahashi goes for a big hit again. However, his shot lands into the hands of Ravi Bishnoi at the deep square leg. Second wicket gone for Japan.

JPN 7/2 (1.4 overs)

OUT!!! Early breakthrough for India as Ishan Kishan run out Lachlan Yamamoto-Lake for 1. After playing a shot on Axar Patel's delivery, both Lachlan and Kendel ran for a single. However, while coming for a double, Lachlan fell short as Ishan Kishan timely removed the bails. First wicket gone for Japan.

JPN 2/1 (0.5 overs)

Hello and welcome to Japan's chase of 33 runs against India. For Japan, captain Kendel Kadowaki-Fleming and Lachlan Yamamoto-Lake have opened the innings. For India, Axar Patel will be bowling the first over. 

After a lot of struggle, India have a posted 32/4 in 5 overs against Japan. The hosts have bowled brilliantly and gave a tough time to Indian batters. Now. their batters have to shine against Arshdeep Singh, Yash Thakur, Ravi Bishnoi, in order to register a historic win over India. 33 off 30 balls to win. 

OUT!!! Shreyas Iyer also departs for 16. Going for a big hit, Iyer ends up giving a catch to Ibrahim Takahashi. Fourth wicket gone for India. 

IND 32/4 (4.5 overs)

Shreyas Iyer and Tilak Varma are trying their best to bring India out of the mess. Both the batters are rotating the strike and helping India post a respectable total at the end of five overs. Four overs are up and just six more deliveries are left. 

IND 22/3 (4 overs)

Another wicket gone for India as Benjamin Ito-Davis dismisses Ishan Kishan for 3. Another flighted delivery that grips off the surface. Ishan makes room by staying leg-side and looks to go inside-out, but the turn causes a miscue and the ball balloons straight into the air. Makoto Taniyama gets underneath it at extra cover and completes a straightforward catch. Third wicket gone for India. 

IND 14/3 (2.4 overs)

OUT!!! Japan bowlers are on fire as this time, Ibrahim Takahashi removes Sanju Samson for 9. A flighted delivery that turned back in sharply. Samson looks to hit it straight down the ground, but the movement off the pitch results in a thick inside edge. The ball flies towards deep mid-wicket, where Ito-Davis completed a comfortable catch. India lose both their openers within the first two overs. 

IND 9/2 (1.2 overs)

OUT!!! What just happened here? Japan get the biggest breakthrough of the day as Charlie Hara-Hinze dismisses Abhishek Sharma for duck. Angling into the leg stump, the left-hander gets down low and looks to glance it away but only manages a top edge. The ball loops over short fine leg, where Shoma tracks back and completes a fine catch. The ground just erupts in celebrations. 

IND 7/1 (1 overs)

The highly anticipated moment is here as the one-off T20I between India and Japan finally begins. For India, Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson have opened the proceedings. The duo will be aiming to steal early boundaries as it is just a five-over match. On the other hand, Charlie Hara-Hinze will be bowling the first over for Japan. Let's play!!! 

Players of both the team are out on the field for their respective national anthems. The historic one-off T20I between India and Japan shall begin shortly now. 

Youngest to feature in a T20I against India

17y 228d Gulshan Jha (Nepal)
17y 341d Max Heingo (Namibia)
17y 357d Charlie Hara-Hinze (Japan) *
19y 11d Noor Ahmad (Afghanistan)
19y 105d Tendai Chatara (Zimbabwe)

Japan (Playing XI): Lachlan Yamamoto-Lake, Reo Sakurano-Thomas, Kendel Kadowaki-Fleming(c), Benjamin Ito-Davis, Wataru Miyauchi, Alexander Shirai-Patmore(w), Charlie Hara-Hinze, Ibrahim Takahashi, Declan Suzuki-McComb, Makoto Taniyama, Shoma Sugaya-Slater.

India (Playing XI): Sanju Samson(w), Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan, Shreyas Iyer(c), Tilak Varma, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Yash Thakur, Ravi Bishnoi, Arshdeep Singh.

"We probably would have bowled, just to give the crowd an opportunity to see some of the best players in the world go at it here. But yeah, I was happy either way. [How are the nerves and how are the boys feeling?] Yeah, it's just pure excitement, I think. It's starting to sink in now. You know, we've tossed, we're ready to play. But yeah, it's an amazing opportunity for the players and the broader cricket community. So hopefully we can put on a show. [What do you want to bring to the table from a Japanese point of view?] Yeah, obviously there's quite a few Indian supporters that have come out, but the more people that watch cricket in Japan, the better. So we're very grateful for everyone that's come out here and for everyone that's made the game possible," said Japan skipper Kendel Kadowaki-Fleming. 

"We want to bat first. It's a big occasion, and we know the friendship you mentioned, 75 years of friendship. So it's going to be an exciting one, and we wanted to explore the conditions as well. I never envisioned that I would be coming to Japan and captaining one day. I know the baseball is quite big over here, but today, yeah, I'm standing right here. The crowd is decent, there are a lot of supporters, so it's important that we give them something back, and also the crowd watching us from back home. It's important that this match happened, and it's happening today. So looking forward for an exciting one. [What are the things you just need to crease out ahead of that Asian Games campaign?] It's important that we know the conditions and we are aware of what's happening around us," said India skipper Shreyas Iyer. 

India skipper Shreyas Iyer wins toss, opts to bat against Japan in One-Off T20I in rain-curtailed 5-over match on Tuesday in Sano. 

The official word is finally here and it has been announced that the match has been reduced to five overs per-side. The toss is happening soon now. 

The third ground inspection is currently underway as the match officials are monitoring the conditions. Another official statement should be out soon. 

Update: Next inspection will be at 3:15 PM local time (11:45 AM IST).#TeamIndiaInJapan | #JPNvIND https://t.co/IIc6yrBMp8

— BCCI (@BCCI) September 22, 2026

The match referee remains in talks with the groundstaff as several troublesome areas are still visible on the field. A few damp patches continue to hold up proceedings, while no Super Soppers or groundstaff are currently at work. The ground is expected to dry out naturally, though that now appears increasingly unlikely.

The things turned sunny a while ago but the clouds are now back and conditions look darker. The ground inspection is currently underway and we might have another official statement anytime soon. 

It ha suddenly turned cloudy in Sano and the match officials have decided to push the ground inspection by 15 minutes. So, the revised time for the second inspection is now 10:45 AM (IST). 

UPDATE from Sano. 🇯🇵🇮🇳

Sun is out. Outfield still wet. Toss still delayed.

Inspection in 15 minutes (9:45 AM IST).

First-ever India vs Japan T20I. Suzuki Cup. https://t.co/OogP0TEjDj pic.twitter.com/VHWsY1mXot

— Rajat Jain (@RajatJain) September 22, 2026

Ohhh!! As we were talking about the good conditions, the first inspection is concluded and a second ground inspection has been announced. The match officials are not happy with the current conditions and another inspection will be held at 10:30 AM (IST). Stay tuned. 

As per the current visuals from Sano, players of both the teams are seen out in the middle and warming up for the match. The sun is shinning brightly and it is highly likely that the toss will happen in sometime. Apart from this, the match officials will be out soon for the ground insepction. Stay tuned.

For the Shreyas Iyer-led India, the match against Japan would be good preparation ahead of their Asian Games campaign, which begins on September 28 in the quarterfinal stage against a yet-to-be-decided rival. The focus will once again be on 15-year-old batting star Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, who is also the youngest athlete in India's 501-strong Games contingent.

Update

Toss for the #JPNvIND T20I has been delayed due to a wet outfield. An inspection will take place at 1:15 PM local time (9:45 AM IST).#TeamIndiaInJapan

— BCCI (@BCCI) September 22, 2026

Great weather at the Sano Cricket Ground for India Vs Japan T20i. (Daniel Beswick). pic.twitter.com/o7dV5TbVbR

— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) September 22, 2026

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Abhishek Rajput - Cricketer cum IITian🏏🎓 (@abhishekanand6527)

"It is beautiful. I mean, the time we landed, we saw the people very cordial, generous, and helpful in nature, which we see at back at home as well. The hospitality is brilliant, and yeah, I mean, it is 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 exploring more," he said.

"It is going to be a thrilling and exciting match for us. This is the first time we would be playing Japan, and do not know much about the conditions, the wicket, but looking forward to have a great match," he added. 

Indian T20I skipper Shreyas Iyer expressed excitement for the historic one-off T20I against Japan and also spoke of his initial experience in the country so far, which saw him experience people's "cordial, helpful and generous nature".  

India are the reigning T20 World Cup champions while Japan are ranked 41st, making it a no contest on paper. But beyond the statistics, the game presents an opportunity of a lifetime for Japanese cricketers to rub shoulders with the best in the business. 

Japan will get their much-awaited moment under the sun when they host cricketing giants India for a historic one-off T20I on Tuesday with the hope that the game's impact extends well beyond the field of play in a country that loves baseball. The match was announced recently and is being accommodated ahead of India's Asian Games campaign in Aichi-Nagoya, launching celebrations of the 75 years of India-Japan diplomatic relations.

According to AccuWeather, rain could arrive around 4 PM and 5 PM local time, which may cause delays or temporary interruptions in the historic India vs Japan match. The weather is expected to stay cloudy, with temperatures hovering around 27 degrees Celsius and humidity levels remaining in the high 80s. 

Weather concerns have also emerged over India's historic one-off T20I against Japan, which is scheduled for Tuesday. According to Japan Times, the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) urged residents in Izu Islands and Kanto, as well as Pacific coastal areas of Tokai and Tohoku, to remain on high alert for landslides, violent winds and possible flooding. Incidentally, the Sano International Cricket Ground, where the one-off T20I between India and Japan will be held, is located in the Tochigi Prefecture in Kanto, raising doubts over whether the game will go ahead.

Torrential rainfall has hit Japan amidst the ongoing Asian Games 2026, with Typhoon Dujuan set to hit the country's pacific coast. More than 300 flights have been reportedly cancelled and 1.6 million people have been asked to evacuate, with the powerful typhoon fast approaching. 

Hello and welcome to our live coverage of the One-Off T20I match between India and Japan, straight from the Sano International Cricket Ground, Sano, Kanto. Stay tuned for all the live updates.