Japan captain Kendel Kadowaki-Fleming said his side had every reason to feel proud after pushing two-time T20 World Champions India to the very last ball, despite suffering a narrow two-run defeat in a historic T20I clash at the Sano International Cricket Ground on 22 September. The result also marked India's 200th T20I victory, including Super Over wins — a milestone reached in one of the most unlikely settings in world cricket.

Kadowaki-Fleming on the Narrow Defeat

'When it gets that close, it's actually a little bit tougher to take, and the emotions are running pretty high in our group,' Kadowaki-Fleming said after the match. 'But the fact that we were able to run the best team in the world, in my opinion, to the last ball of a game is pretty special.'

He also noted the surreal nature of the occasion, pointing to remarks from India's Shreyas Iyer acknowledging Japan's cricketing progress. 'To hear someone like Shreyas talking about the progression of Japan cricket is still quite surreal. So, extremely proud of our group and the broader cricket community that we were able to make this game happen,' the captain added.

India Defend 33 on a Turning Track

The match began with a delayed start, and India were restricted to just 32/4 — a modest target that still proved challenging on a spin-friendly surface. Japan entered their chase with belief, but came up short by two runs. India's spin trio of Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, and Ravi Bishnoi proved the difference, exploiting conditions expertly on what Kadowaki-Fleming described as 'our spinning wicket.'

'They've got some world-class spinners...bowling on our spinning wicket. We knew it was going to be an extreme challenge, but at six and a half an over your mind does sort of wander and think you get a couple out of the middle and you never know,' he said.

17-Year-Old Charlie Hinze Stands Out

Japan's standout performer with the ball was 17-year-old Charlie Hinze, who claimed figures of 2/17 against a star-studded Indian batting lineup. Kadowaki-Fleming was full of praise for the teenager, calling him a 'prodigy' who has been around the men's squad for a couple of years. He also lauded bowlers Ito-Davis and Takahashi for holding their own against some of the finest players of spin in the world.

Notably, Kadowaki-Fleming expressed mild disappointment that 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi was not part of India's playing XI for the match.

Gratitude to BCCI, JCA and Sponsor Suzuki

The Japan captain was emphatic in crediting the broader ecosystem that made the fixture possible — including title sponsor Suzuki, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), the Japan Cricket Association (JCA), ground volunteers, and even Japan's women's team, who reportedly worked through the night to prepare the ground. 'Without Suzuki, the title sponsor, without the BCCI, to whom we're very grateful, and the JCA, this game wouldn't have been possible,' he said.

Asian Games Campaign in Focus

With the T20I against India serving as Japan's first-ever match against a full International Cricket Council (ICC) member nation, Kadowaki-Fleming confirmed the team will now regroup for the Asian Games campaign with approximately a 36-hour turnaround before their next fixture against another full member. He said Japan's goal is to win one of their next two matches to earn a shot at the knockout stages and a potential medal. 'Two extremely strong opponents we've got over the next three days, but we'll be competing as hard as we can,' he said. Japan's remarkable showing against India has significantly boosted their confidence — and their Asian Games medal ambitions.