Archive · 22 Sep 2026
India Edge Japan by Two Runs in Historic Suzuki Cup
India and Japan played their first men’s T20I cricket match against each other.
Rain meant both teams had only five overs to bat.
India scored 32 runs and lost four wickets.
Shreyas Iyer scored the most runs for India with 16.
Japan’s bowlers made it difficult for India’s batters.
Japan then scored 30 runs in its five overs.
Washington Sundar took two wickets while defending India’s total.
India won by just two runs.
The match was also part of efforts to build cricket in Japan ahead of the 2026 Asian Games.
India defeated Japan by two runs in the first-ever men’s T20I between the countries.
Rain reduced the Suzuki Cup match to five overs per side.
India scored 32 for four, with Shreyas Iyer top-scoring with 16.
Japan made 30 for three, with Washington Sundar taking two wickets for India.
The match marked India’s first international men’s cricket fixture in Japan and supported cricket’s growth there.
- Who
- The men’s national cricket teams of India and Japan.
- What
- India defeated Japan by two runs in their first-ever men’s T20I meeting.
- When
- The exact date is not specified in the article; the match was held during the Suzuki Cup linked to the 75th anniversary of India-Japan diplomatic relations.
- Where
- Japan; the article describes it as India’s first international men’s cricket match in the country.
- Why
- The fixture aimed to expand cricket’s reach in Japan and strengthen sporting cooperation between India and Japan, while helping Japan prepare for the 2026 Asian Games.
- Result
- India beat Japan by two runs
- Format
- Five overs per side after rain
- India’s score
- 32 for four
- Japan’s score
- 30 for three
- India’s leading scorer
- Shreyas Iyer, 16 from 12 balls
- Best Indian bowler
- Washington Sundar, two wickets for 13 runs
- Japan’s leading scorer
- Kendel Kadowaki-Fleming, 12 runs