Archive · 22 Sep 2026
India Opt to Bat in Historic Five-Over Japan Clash
India and Japan are playing a special cricket match in Sano.
India won the toss and decided to bat first.
Rain and a wet field delayed the start.
Because of the delay, each team will have only five overs to score runs.
This is the first time Japan has played India in a cricket match.
India is using the game to prepare for the Asian Games.
Jasprit Bumrah is resting, and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is not playing.
The match also celebrates 75 years of friendship between India and Japan.
India won the toss and chose to bat first against Japan in Sano.
Wet-outfield delays reduced the one-off T20I to five overs per side.
The match is Japan’s first against India in international cricket.
India rested Jasprit Bumrah, while Vaibhav Sooryavanshi missed out from the playing XI.
The fixture launches celebrations for 75 years of India-Japan diplomatic relations and provides India practice before the Asian Games.
- Who
- India and Japan, led by Shreyas Iyer and Kendel Kadowaki-Fleming, respectively.
- What
- A one-off T20I reduced to five overs per side after India won the toss and chose to bat.
- When
- Tuesday, September 22; the toss was delayed from 9:00 AM IST.
- Where
- Sano International Cricket Ground in Sano, Tochigi Prefecture, Japan.
- Why
- The match marks the start of celebrations for 75 years of India-Japan diplomatic relations and gives India practice before the Asian Games.
India’s Approach
Japan’s Perspective
Choice after the toss
India’s Approach
India chose to bat first because the shortened five-over format suited its approach and the innings would provide practice in the available conditions.
Japan’s Perspective
Japan captain Kendel Kadowaki-Fleming said Japan would probably have bowled first to give the crowd a chance to see India’s leading players, but accepted the result of the toss.
Importance of the occasion
India’s Approach
India viewed the match as preparation for its Asian Games campaign and an opportunity to understand the conditions.
Japan’s Perspective
Japan described the fixture as a major opportunity for its cricket community, volunteers, sponsors and supporters, particularly because India is a highly prominent opponent.
- Match format
- One-off T20I, reduced to five overs per side
- Toss
- India won and elected to bat first
- Delay reason
- Wet outfield
- Venue
- Sano International Cricket Ground, Tochigi Prefecture
- Historic milestone
- Japan faced India in cricket for the first time
- India absence
- Jasprit Bumrah was rested
- Japan qualification context
- Japan finished second in the East Asia-Pacific T20 World Cup qualifier and won all three of its matches
