Seasoned spinner Axar Patel choked the inexperienced Japanese batters just in time as India survived a scare to win the rain-curtailed one-off T20 International between the two mismatched sides by a mere two runs on Tuesday (September 22, 2026).
Also, unlike the track in Aichi-Nagoya, where the women’s team won gold medal with a power-packed batting show, the Sano pitch didn’t offer conducive conditions which one associates with strokeplay in T20 cricket. While Japan gave India a scare but it had more to do with the shortened game on a rank turner that literally made the match into a lottery. The turn and the slowness of the track contributed to their downfall and the shorter duration of the match meant that there was no chance of a recovery.
With the match being reduced to five overs-a-side due to inclement weather and the underlying moisture on the surface offering more than expected turn, the apparent gulf in talent and experience was seemingly bridged as India managed only 32 for 4 in five overs hitting a total of three boundaries.
Credit must be given to the three Japanese spinners and skipper Kendel Kadowaki-Fleming who understood the conditions at the venue where the home team plays all its home games.