Devajit Saikia hails India-Japan T20I as new breakthrough in friendship

India defeated Japan by two runs in a one-off T20I at Sano International Cricket Ground on September 22, 2026. The rain-shortened match was played in a five-over format, marking Japan’s first-ever men’s international cricket fixture against India. India batted first and scored 32 for 4 wickets in their five overs, with Shreyas Iyer top-scoring with 16 off 12 balls. The fixture was held under the Sport 75 initiative, which promotes sporting exchanges between India and Japan to mark 75 years of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia reflected on the significance of the match, emphasising its importance beyond the result itself.

“I congratulate the team, and it is not just about winning against the Japan men’s team yesterday. It represents a new breakthrough in friendship between India and Japan. This was possible because of the initiative taken by ICC Chairman Jay Shah in Edinburgh, where he directed me to sit with my Japanese counterpart to organize this match in Japan as a mark of friendship between the Indian Cricket Board and the Japan Cricket Board. This vision finally fructified with yesterday’s match,” Saikia said.

“Great enthusiasm was on display, and this marks the beginning of a new era of friendship, development, and the spreading of cricket into new territories. I am certain that the response and enthusiasm shown by the Japanese people yesterday will definitely encourage the game of cricket to gain more popularity in Japan as well as its neighbouring countries,” he added.

India’s batting and Japan’s bowling performance

India’s batting performance saw early struggles against Japan’s bowling attack. Abhishek Sharma fell without troubling the scorers, while Sanju Samson and Ishan Kishan also departed cheaply. Shreyas Iyer’s composed 16 off 12 balls provided the backbone to India’s total, helping the team reach 32 for 4 in their allotted five overs.

Japan’s chase began with early setbacks as the team slipped to 7 for 2 wickets. Japan captain Kendel Kadowaki-Fleming and Benjamin Ito-Davis provided some resistance in the middle overs to stabilise the innings. Washington Sundar emerged as India’s standout bowler, taking two wickets and finishing with figures of 2 for 13. Sundar removed Kadowaki-Fleming, who had made 12 off 12 balls, at a crucial stage of Japan’s chase.

Japan required eight runs from the final six balls to complete the chase. Axar Patel was entrusted with defending the final over and restricted Japan to 30 for 3 wickets, securing India’s two-run victory. Charlie Hara-Hinze took 2 for 17 for Japan, emerging as the most successful bowler in the match.

Saikia expressed optimism about the broader impact of the fixture on cricket’s growth in Japan and the wider region. He emphasised how the enthusiasm displayed by Japanese supporters and players would help establish the sport more firmly in the country and neighbouring territories.