Script history India become first team to register 200 T20I wins after beating Japan in thriller

India beat Japan by 2 runs. (Photo Credit: BCCI) NEW DELHI: India on Tuesday wrote another milestone in their T20I history, becoming the first team to register 200 wins in men’s T20 internationals, including victories achieved through Super Overs.A landmark 200th win came in dramatic fashion as the world champions survived a major scare from hosts Japan to edge them by just two runs in a rain-shortened one-off T20I in Sano.With the match reduced to five overs per side due to rain, India only scored 32/4 after electing to bat. Japan came agonizingly close in the chase to finish on 30/3 as India held their nerve to complete a historic victory.India’s journey to 200 T20I victories began with their inaugural victory against South Africa in Johannesburg in 2006. They reached 50 against Sri Lanka in Colombo in 2017, completed 100 against West Indies in Kolkata in 2022 and reached 150 in Australia in 2024 at Gros Islet.Their last win against Japan took them into uncharted territory.

India reached 200 wins faster than ever before

India have now registered 200 wins from 291 T20Is, comfortably ahead of Pakistan who have 174 wins from 299 matches. New Zealand are third with 137 wins from 267 matches, followed by South Africa with 131 from 235 and England with 130 from 233.India’s progress past 50-win milestones is also getting faster.They needed 83 matches for their first 50 wins before taking 72 matches to move from 50 to 100. The next 50 came in 70 matches, while India needed just 66 matches to move from 150 to 200 wins.However, the second victory was far from routine.

Axar, Washington helps India survive Japanese scare

The low-scoring contest was dominated by spin with a wet surface and a slow outfield making hitting difficult.Japan’s spinners troubled India’s star-studded batting line-up from the start. Charlie Hara Hinze dismissed Abhishek Sharma for a duck while Ibrahim Takahashi accounted for Sanju Samson who made 10. Benjamin Ito-Davis then removed Ishan Kishan for three.Skipper Shreyas Iyer top-scored with 16 but India could only manage 32/4 from their five overs, hitting just three boundaries.Japan looked set to pull off one of the biggest upsets in their cricketing history during the chase. Ravi Bishnoi conceded 10 runs in the third over, while penultimate over Washington Sundar went for seven as Japan moved within range.Washington finished with 2/13 while Axar Patel’s experience proved crucial in the final.Japan needed eight runs from the last six balls but Axar gave Shirai Patmore and Benjamin Ito-Davis little space to attack. The rain also slowed down the field, making hitting boundaries even harder.There was late drama when a wide challenge against India in the final was overturned following the dismissal of Shreyas Iyer. Japan eventually finished on 30/3 for the loss of two runs.The result gave India their 200th T20I win in their first ever T20I against Japan, adding another milestone to the country’s growing record in the format.For Japan, however, the narrow defeat underlined just how competitive the abbreviated contest had become as their spinners took advantage of the conditions and kept a strong Indian batting line-up at bay.