India skipper Shreyas Iyer praised Japan for their impressive fightback after India edged the hosts by two runs in a rain-affected T20I on Tuesday.
Iyer also acknowledged the 75th anniversary of diplomatic ties between India and Japan while thanking everyone who helped stage the unusual fixture.
“First, congratulations to Japan and India for 75 years of diplomatic relations. It’s something that we keep talking about now and then when we arrive,” Iyer said after the match.
India faced a lengthy journey to the venue, but Iyer said the team remained focused on getting the match underway and entertaining the supporters who had gathered.
Japan’s spin bowlers used the conditions effectively and restricted India to 32/4, with Iyer making 16 from 12 balls.
Japan launched an aggressive response while chasing India’s 33-run target and came within touching distance of a memorable victory.
Washington Sundar disrupted the hosts’ chase by taking two wickets, while Axar Patel used his experience to keep the scoring under control.
Japan eventually finished two runs behind India, handing the visitors a narrow victory.
Iyer said the completion of the match itself made the occasion particularly meaningful.
Iyer Embraces Captaincy Role
The India skipper said leading the national side represents both an honour and a significant responsibility.
Iyer added that captaincy allows him to bring out his best and allows him to embrace new challenges.
India will next shift their attention towards the Asian Games, with Iyer calling for a match-by-match approach.
He said the team would first travel to Nagoya, assess the playing conditions and understand how the pitches behave before setting targets for the tournament.
“The more we stick to the present, the better for us,” Iyer concluded.
India’s victory also represented their 200th T20I win, including Super Over victories, while Japan’s performance provided valuable encouragement before their Asian Games campaign.
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