NEW DELHI: India scripted another milestone in their T20I history on Tuesday, becoming the first team to register 200 wins in men’s T20 internationals, including victories achieved through Super Overs.The landmark 200th win came in dramatic fashion as the world champions survived a major scare from hosts Japan, edging them by just two runs in a rain-shortened one-off T20I at Sano.With the match reduced to five overs per side because of rain, India posted only 32/4 after opting to bat. Japan came agonisingly close in the chase, finishing on 30/3 as India held their nerve to complete a historic victory.India’s journey to 200 T20I wins began with their inaugural victory against South Africa in Johannesburg in 2006. They reached 50 wins against Sri Lanka in Colombo in 2017, completed 100 victories against West Indies in Kolkata in 2022 and reached 150 against Australia in Gros Islet in 2024.The latest victory against Japan took them into uncharted territory.
India reach 200 wins faster than ever
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 through the 50-win milestones has also become increasingly rapid.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 required only 66 matches to move from 150 to 200 wins.The 200th victory, however, was far from routine.
Axar, Washington help India survive Japan scare
The low-scoring contest was dominated by spin, with the damp surface and slow outfield making stroke-making difficult.Japan’s spinners troubled India’s star-studded batting line-up from the beginning. 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 manage only 32/4 from their five overs, hitting just three boundaries.Japan looked capable of producing one of the biggest upsets in their cricketing history during the chase. Ravi Bishnoi conceded 10 runs in the third over, while Washington Sundar’s penultimate over went for seven as Japan moved within striking distance.Washington finished with 2/13, while Axar Patel’s experience proved crucial in the final over.Japan needed eight runs from the last six balls, but Axar gave Shirai Patmore and Benjamin Ito-Davis little room to attack. Rain had also left the outfield sluggish, making boundary-hitting even harder.There was late drama when a wide call against India in the final over was overturned after an appeal from Shreyas Iyer. Japan eventually finished on 30/3, falling two runs short.The result gave India their 200th T20I win in their historic first T20I against Japan, adding another landmark to the country’s growing record in the format.For Japan, the narrow defeat nevertheless underlined how competitive the shortened contest became as their spinners exploited the conditions and kept India’s powerful batting line-up in check.
