India Vs Japan One-Off T20I Highlights: IND Beat JPN By 2 Runs In Final Over Thriller

Hello, we are back with another Cricket live blog, and it is India Vs Japan for the very first time in the history. Stay tuned for all the live updates.

Live streaming of the Japan vs India T20 2026 match will be available on FanCode in India. The JPN vs IND T20 Suzuki Cup clash will be telecast live on Star Sports 1 and Star Sports 1 Hindi.

India: Shreyas Iyer (C), Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson (WK), Ishan Kishan (WK), Shivam Dube, Tilak Varma (VC), Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Ravi Bishnoi, Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Yash Thakur, Vipraj Nigam.

Japan: Kendel Kadowaki-Fleming (c), Charlie Hara-Hinze, Benjamin Ito-Davis, Alester Kadowaki-Fleming, Kohei Kubota, Jake Kusuda-Nairn, Wataru Miyauchi (wk), Reo Sakurano-Thomas, Alex Shirai-Patmore (wk), Shoma Sugaya-Slater, Declan Suzuki-McComb, Tsuyoshi Takada, Ibrahim Takahashi, Makoto Taniyama, Lachlan Yamamoto-Lake

India’s predicted playing XI vs Japan: Abhishek Sharma, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Ishan Kishan (WK), Shreyas Iyer (C), Tilak Varma, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Ravi Bishnoi, Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah.

The toss has been pushed back owing to a damp outfield. Match officials have scheduled a formal pitch and ground inspection for 1:15 PM local time, which corresponds to 9:45 AM IST.

Check Our Story on Team India's Record In Opening T20Is In Every Country:

Players are currently warming up under bright, sunny skies ahead of a pitch inspection.

The toss has been pushed back again. Match officials have scheduled a pitch and ground inspection for 10:30 AM IST.

BCCI has officially updated that the pitch inspection will take place at 10:45 AM IST, broadcasters on-air are currently displaying a 10:30 AM IST graphic, leaving fans in confusion.

Just as players were getting ready under the morning sun, the mood at the ground has taken a sharp turn. Ominous black clouds have rolled in overhead, significantly driving up the threat of rain and throwing fresh uncertainty into the delayed toss and inspection schedule.

Relief for fans and players alike! The ominous dark clouds that threatened to disrupt proceedings have cleared out, giving way to bright skies once again.

It's been frustrating, isn't it? The Indian fans have been waiting for this historic T20I but unfortunately, bad weather is playing the spoilsport. The men in blue are chilling in the dugout while the Japanese are there out on the field warming up.

However, the official confirmation about the start of play is yet to be received.

The crowd is cheerful and excited but when will the game begin? We'll get to know shortly.

Here's the first look of the pitch for the India vs Japan historic T20I. What would the ideal score if India bats first?

With official confirmation on the start of play still awaited, the players engage in a fun game of football to keep themselves in the groove.

We have to wait a little longer as the next inspection will take place at 11:45 IST.

Every Full Member should be required to play at least two series against Associate Members each year. Such a provision could generate around 25 additional series annually, giving Associate nations greater exposure to top-level cricket.

The game hasn't started yete but there has been no handshakes as well. So there's some hope. The final inspection is underway and we can expect the game to start soon.

India opt to bat, match reduced to 5 overs per side.

“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,” said captain Shreyas Iyer at toss.

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

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.

Updated Playing Conditions:

5 Overs per side

1.3-over powerplay

Toss: 12:00 PM IST

Start Time: 12:30 PM IST

India won the toss in the historic one-off T20I against Japan and opted to bat

Opponents faced by each Full Member side (T20I)

Zimbabwe: 32

Ireland: 27

Pakistan/ Bangladesh: 21

India: 20

New Zealand, Afghanistan: 19

England, South Africa, Sri Lanka, West Indies: 18

Australia: 15

Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma walkt out to open the Indian innings. Charlie Hara-Hinze opens the Japanese attack.

Charlie Hara-Hinze strikes early! Abhishek Sharma nicks a top-edge towards short fine, with Shoma Sugaya-Slater running back and taking a fine catch. Abhishek falls for a golden duck as Japan celebrate a huge wicket.

India: 7/1 in 1 Over

Indians are clearly struglling against the Japanese spinners. They are too hot to handle. Ibrahim Takahashi strikes this time. Sanju Samson goes down the ground but gets a thick inside edge, with Benjamin Ito-Davis taking a simple catch at deep mid-wicket. Samson departs for 9 off 7.

IND: IND 9/2 In 1.3 Overs

Indian top-order crumbles in Japan. Benjamin Ito-Davis strikes to reomove Ishan Kishan. The India number 3 looks to go inside out but miscues the shot off the turn, with Makoto Taniyama taking an easy catch at extra cover. Ishan departs for 3 off 6.

IND 14/3 in 3 overs

Finally comes an over where India didn't lose a wicket. Tilak Verma and captain Shreyas Iyer are battling in the middle while the Japanese are taking pride in mauling the World Champions.

IND: 22/3 in 4 Overs

Japan, take a bow!

The hosts could not have asked for a better bowling effort. The entire team walks off celebrating after restricting India to just 32. All five overs were bowled by spinners, who found plenty of turn and grip from the surface. India struggled to read the spin and never managed to build momentum.

Japan Japan captain Kendel Kadowaki-Fleming and Lachlan Yamamoto-Lake walk out as they begin the chase of 33. Axar Patel opens India’s bowling attack.

Lachlan Yamamoto-Lake pulls a short ball towards square leg but takes on Ishan Kishan’s arm. Kishan fires in a direct hit from the deep, catching Yamamoto-Lake short. Japan lose their first wicket in the opening over while chasing 33.

 JPN: 2/1 in 1 Over

India tightening their grip in the game despite posting a low score. Washington Sundar strikes. Ibrahim Takahashi steps out and slogs towards deep square leg, but finds Ravi Bishnoi, who takes a comfortable catch. Takahashi departs for 4 off 3 as Japan lose their second wicket.

India beat Japan by 2 runs in a thrilling encounter at Sano.

India survived a thrilling final-over scare to edge Japan by two runs in a rain-shortened five-over T20I at Sano. After posting 32/4, led by Shreyas Iyer’s 16 off 12, India restricted Japan to 30/3. Washington Sundar claimed two wickets, while Japan needed eight from the final over.