The Indian cricket team edged out Japan by two runs in Sano on Tuesday (September 22), winning the first T20I between the two nations.
India could only post a total of 32/4 in the match, which was shortened to five overs per side due to the wet outfield, but they successfully defended it by restricting the hosts to 30/3. The victory over Japan was particularly significant for India because it was their 200th in T20Is.
India is the world’s first team (national or franchise) to win 200 matches in the game’s shortest format. India has 194 outright wins in 291 T20Is, including six in the Super Over. India leads the list of teams with the most T20I wins, followed by Pakistan. The 2009 T20 World Cup winners have won 176 of 303 matches so far.
Teams With Most T20 Wins
India: 200 wins in 291 matches
Pakistan: 176 wins in 303 matches
Somerset: 174 wins in 317 matches
Lancashire: 166 wins in 288 matches
Mumbai Indians: 166 wins in 313 matches
Chennai Super Kings: 163 wins in 291 matches
India has played T20Is against 20 teams and has defeated each of them in at least one match. India is the only team in the world with a win percentage greater than 50 against all opponents they have faced.
In India’s encounter against Japan on Tuesday, skipper Shreyas Iyer chose to bat first, but the visitors lost in-form opener Abhishek Sharma for a golden duck in the first over. Sanju Samson, who hit back-to-back fifties against Afghanistan last week, also failed to live up to expectations and was dismissed in the second over.
India lost Ishan Kishan in the third over, and skipper Iyer, who scored 16 runs, was sent back to the pavilion by Charlie Hara-Hinze on the fifth ball of India’s innings. The target of 33 runs was not a difficult one to defend, but India managed to overcome a scare and defeat Japan by two runs. Washington Sundar sealed the deal by taking two wickets for 13 runs in his allotted two overs. India will next compete on September 28, 2026. India will compete in the quarterfinals of the Asian Games 2026.