World champions India stared directly into the abyss before pulling off an extraordinary escape to finally clinch a nerve-shredding victory against an inspired Japan in their one-off encounter.
On a slow, gripping deck, Japan stunned India early with a bowling performance of supreme discipline. The underdogs completely suffocated the Indian top order, blowing away the Powerplay to leave the favourites tottering at an unthinkable 32/4 inside five overs.
Abhishek Sharma was sent packing for a first-ball duck, while Sanju Samson (9) and Ishan Kishan (3 off 6) perished cheaply under relentless pressure. Shreyas Iyer was the sole batter to cross double digits with 16 off 12, as India were starved of rhythm, scraping together only two boundaries and no maximums in that harrowing opening stretch.
In response, Japanese batters held their nerve against India’s frontline attack, pacing the pursuit smartly and nudging the equation down to the final over. With tension mounting to a crescendo and Indian shoulders visibly drooping, the contest hinged on the ultimate ball. They needed a boundary to seal an epoch-making triumph, but Axar did the needful to restrict to just a single.
Yeh kya hogaya?! 🤯
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— FanCode (@FanCode) September 22, 2026
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India vs. Japan cricket: Score, result and highlights
After five overs, Japan are 30/3
Japan fell agonisingly short of scripting the mother of all upsets as India survived an extraordinary scare to scrape through in a heart-stopping finish. After dragging the world champions into deep waters, Japan needed a big final blow to complete an improbable heist, ratcheting up the tension to fever pitch in the deciding over.
Off the ultimate delivery, the batter attempted an ambitious swivel-pull but was beaten for pace. While Shreyas Iyer and a vastly relieved Indian side exchanged handshakes and embraced their narrow escape, the Japanese camp was left gutted, heads in hands, agonising over a golden opportunity missed after pushing a cricketing powerhouse to the absolute brink.
Ishan bhai ke direct hit ke liye do shabd comments mein 🔥👇
Stream Japan vs India LIVE on FanCode 📲#JPNvINDpic.twitter.com/kYdTSos3UN
— FanCode (@FanCode) September 22, 2026
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After five overs, India are 32/4
Japan delivered an absolute stunner in the opening five overs, executing an inspired spin masterclass to leave powerhouse India reeling at a shocking 32/4.
Opening with relentless turn on a sluggish surface, Japan’s skipper backed his slow bowlers completely, and they repaid that faith with ruthless precision against India’s marquee names.
The onslaught started immediately with Abhishek Sharma perishing for a golden duck, followed quickly by the cheap dismissals of Sanju Samson (9) and Ishan Kishan (3 off 6).
Even Shreyas Iyer, the lone batter to cross double figures with 16 off 12, could not weather the storm, as the men in blue were starved of boundaries—scraping together just two fours and zero sixes throughout the entire Powerplay phase.
Sayonara, openers 🫣
Both Indian openers fall inside the powerplay! 🇯🇵
Stream Japan v India T20I LIVE on FanCode 📲#JPNvINDpic.twitter.com/PbjigSOWjL
— FanCode (@FanCode) September 22, 2026
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