Sano, September 22 (Daily Kiran) : In a thrilling encounter at the Sano International Cricket Stadium on September 22, 2026, India faced Japan in the Asian Games cricket tournament. Due to rain and a wet pitch, the match was shortened to just five overs per side. India emerged victorious by a mere two runs, with captain Shreyas Iyer named Player of the Match.
After the game, Iyer expressed admiration for the Japanese team. “To be honest, it was a tough wicket for batting. Even our openers, who are usually consistent scorers, struggled to gauge the spin. When I came in, I decided it was crucial to take singles and doubles to keep the strike rotating,” he said. Iyer emphasized the importance of adapting to the conditions, noting that he aimed to play according to the merit of the ball.
Iyer continued, “I always say that a five-over game can go either way. It doesn’t matter how strong your team is, as the opponents are also competitive. The attitude and approach shown by the Japanese team today were excellent. They deserve praise. I’m confident they are on the right path, with more matches against Afghanistan and Nepal ahead.”
Reflecting on the significance of the match, Iyer congratulated both countries on their 75 years of diplomatic relations. “This journey has been long for us; it took three hours to reach here. Our focus was to play the game and excite the crowd and supporters who worked hard to make this match happen,” he added. Despite the match’s brevity, Iyer felt it was a fantastic opportunity to witness the performances of both teams.
When asked about leading the T20 champions, Iyer stated, “It’s a joy to captain the Indian team. While it comes with great responsibility, I thrive under pressure. This role pushes me to perform at my best, and I love exploring it.”
Looking ahead, Iyer reiterated that winning the gold medal is their ultimate goal. “However, we must take it one step at a time. First, we’ll head to Nagoya to assess the conditions and understand the pitch. Other teams have similar ambitions, but for us, it’s about setting a standard and moving forward without dwelling on the past or future.”
In the match, India won the toss and opted to bat first. The team’s performance was disappointing, scoring just 32 runs for four wickets in their five overs. Iyer top-scored with 16 runs. Japan, chasing a target of 33 runs, managed only 30 runs for three wickets, falling short by two runs.
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