India narrowly defeats Japan in rain-shortened T20I

The Indian cricket team secured a narrow two-run victory against Japan in a rain-shortened, five-over-a-side T20I contest. Despite the win, the match raised concerns regarding India's ability to handle slow pitches and heavy spin, conditions that could pose challenges during the upcoming Asian Games in Nagoya.

The match was marked by a controversial wide decision in the final over that helped India avoid an upset against the 41st-ranked hosts. For captain Shreyas Iyer, the upcoming tournament serves as a critical test of both his leadership and batting consistency following recent setbacks.