India and Japan Could Renew Asian Games Cricket Rivalry in Quarter-Finals
The short version
- India beat Japan by two runs in a rain-affected five-over T20I at Sano, the first men's international between the countries.
- A reversed wide call in the final over, corrected after square-leg umpire Chris Brown intervened, helped India hold on.
- If Japan finish second in Asian Games Group A, they would face India in the September 28 quarter-final.
- Group A also includes Afghanistan and Nepal; Group B features Hong Kong China, Malaysia and Oman.
Days after their historic two-run T20I, India and Japan may meet again in the Asian Games 2026 quarter-final on September 28 if Japan finishes second in Group A.
India held off Japan by two runs on Tuesday in a rain-shortened five-over T20I at Sano International Cricket Ground, the first men's international between the two nations. Batting first, India were restricted to 32 for four, with Shreyas Iyer making 16 off 12 and Sanju Samson adding nine off seven. Charlie Hara-Hinze took two wickets for 17 runs, dismissing Abhishek Sharma without scoring and then Iyer.
The chase came down to Japan needing eight from the final over. Umpire Chris Thurgate twice signaled wides when Alexander Shirai-Patmore missed reverse sweeps off Axar Patel, but square-leg official Chris Brown intervened and the second call was overturned, since ICC playing conditions count both sides of the stumps as off side once a reverse shot is attempted. Axar closed out the over and Japan ended on 30 for three.
The teams could meet again quickly. Japan sit in Asian Games Group A with Afghanistan and Nepal, playing each side once, and the group runner-up is scheduled to face India in the second quarter-final on September 28 in Aichi-Nagoya. A single group win could therefore be enough to put Japan in India's path.
Group B contains Hong Kong China, Malaysia and Oman. The quarter-finals run September 28-29, semi-finals follow on October 1, and the bronze and gold medal matches are set for October 3, with all fixtures in Japan Standard Time.