Rain-shortened India-Japan T20I sees Iyer make captaincy history

Shreyas Iyer became the first Full Member captain to bat first in a five-over T20I as India met Japan for the first time at Sano International Cricket Ground.

Rain and a wet outfield at Sano International Cricket Ground delayed the toss and cut the one-off T20I between India and Japan to five overs per side. After winning the toss, India captain Shreyas Iyer chose to bat first, a decision no captain from a Full Member side had previously made in a five-over T20I.

The match is the first men's T20I meeting between the two nations and forms part of celebrations for 75 years of India-Japan diplomatic relations. It opens the 'Sport 75' initiative, which aims to promote sporting exchanges and cooperation between the countries.

India have a strong record in first meetings with new opponents, winning 16 of 19 such matches, with defeats only to New Zealand and West Indies and a no-result against Scotland. No other Full Member has a better record in inaugural fixtures against new opposition.

Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma retained the opening spots, with Samson arriving on back-to-back fifties and Abhishek coming off a 30-ball century against Afghanistan, the fastest T20I hundred by a Full Member batter. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi missed out again, while Yash Thakur replaced the rested Jasprit Bumrah.

The fixture is India's only T20I before the men's team travels to the Asian Games as defending champions.