Japan Almost Humiliate Team India: What Just Happened?

India survived a big scare against Japan, winning the one-off T20I by just two runs in a five over a side match at the Sano International Cricket Ground.

The match was delayed because of the poor outfield, which meant both teams got only five overs.

India won the toss and decided to bat first, but Japan’s bowlers made things difficult for Team India.

India managed just 32/4 in five overs. Captain Shreyas Iyer top scored with 16 runs off 12 balls, including one four. Sanju Samson made 9, while Abhishek Sharma was dismissed for a duck and Ishan Kishan scored three runs.

Japan needed 33 runs to win and kept the chase alive until the final over. They reached 25/3 after four overs, meaning they needed eight runs from the last six balls.

Axar Patel bowled the final over for India, and Japan got close despite three wides. At one stage, they needed only four runs from the final ball, but Japan managed just one run and finished on 30/3.

Kendel Kadowaki Fleming scored 12 off 12 balls, while Benjamin Ito Davis made 9. Washington Sundar was India’s leading bowler with two wickets.

India eventually held on to win by two runs in a match that looked much closer than expected.

The match was also a historic one as India played their first ever international cricket match in Japan. The team will now look to adapt quickly to the local conditions ahead of the Asian Games 2026.