At Sano International Cricket Ground, rain‑shrouded skies delayed the toss to 10am IST, but when the ball finally spun, Shreyas Iyer was already making history. The captain chose to bat first in a 5‑over T20I – a decision no Full Member side has ever made before. The move gave India a slight advantage in a game where every ball counts.
It was the first time India faced Japan in a men’s T20I, marking a milestone in 75 years of diplomatic ties. The match kicked off India’s ‘Sport 75’ initiative, a platform aimed at deepening sporting bonds between the two nations. The fixture also set the tone for the men’s team’s final tune‑up before the 2026 Asian Games.
India’s record against newly‑arrived opponents is staggering – 16 wins from 19 first meetings. The only losses came against New Zealand and West Indies, with a no‑result against Scotland. In this encounter, Iyer left Bumrah on the sidelines, opting for Yash Thakur, while Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma were retained in the top order—both in superb form after back‑to‑back fifties and a 30‑ball century from Sharma.
With the 5‑over format adding extra drama, India hopes to keep its winning streak alive and boost confidence ahead of the Asian Games. The team will hunt for another victory before heading to the 2026 Games as defending champions, a challenge that will test their adaptability in a condensed format.