India narrowly avoided a historic upset in cricket, securing a two-run victory over Japan in a shortened T20 match at Sano. The match was reduced to just five overs each due to rain, creating a high-pressure, fast-paced contest. India, who chose to bat first, struggled on a placid pitch, with captain Shreyas Iyer scoring the team's highest 16 off 12 balls, supported by Sanju Samson's 9. Japan's bowler Charlie Hara-Hinze took two wickets for 17 runs, and India ended their innings at 32 for four. Japan's chase got off to a shaky start as their openers, Lachlan Yamamoto-Lake and Ibrahim Takahashi, fell in the first two overs. Kendel Kadowaki-Fleming played a crucial role with 12 runs before being dismissed by Washington Sundar. Benjamin Ito-Davis added 9 runs, but Japan couldn't keep up with India's total. The final over brought tension when an umpire signaled a wide, but after a discussion with the square leg umpire, the decision was overturned, allowing India to maintain pressure and eventually secure the win. Japan, a relatively new team in international cricket, had used diplomatic channels to arrange the high-profile match against India. India agreed to the encounter partly to get accustomed to the conditions in Japan ahead of their Asian Games title defense. The match also served as a test for the Indian team, helping them prepare for the upcoming competition. India's Asian Games campaign begins on Monday, 28 September, at Korogi Sports Park in Nisshin. Due to their seeding, they will bypass the group stage and directly face the runner-up of Group A, which includes Afghanistan, Japan, and Nepal. This match will be a crucial step in India's quest for gold, with the team aiming to defend their title effectively.