The Indian cricketers had a wide call overturned before they scraped through to a hard-fought win against Japan.
The overturned wide
At Sano, Japan needed six off the last four balls to beat India and pull off arguably the greatest upset in the history of international cricket.
At this point, left-arm spinner Axar Patel came to bowl round the wicket at the left-handed Alexander Shirai-Padmore. As the ball landed on leg-stump, Shirai-Padmore tried to play a switch-hit through the vacant off-side but missed it, and umpire Chris Thurgate ruled a wide.
This did not go down well with Axar or wicketkeeper Sanju Samson. After both expressed displeasure, captain Shreyas Iyer walked up to have a word with leg-umpire Chris Brown. The two umpires conferred, and Thurgate overturned the decision.
It proved vital, as India won the match by two runs.
— Ben Gardner (@Ben_Wisden) September 22, 2026
Was the act legal?
Law 2.12 of cricket does allow the umpire to change any decision: “An umpire may alter any decision provided that such alteration is made promptly and does not contradict Law 20.6 (Dead ball not to be revoked). This apart, an umpire’s decision, once made, is final.”
However, it is to be seen whether any of the Indians violated Article 2.8 of the ICC Playing Conditions, which cover (among other aspects), “excessive, obvious disappointment with an Umpire’s decision” and “arguing or entering into a prolonged discussion with the Umpire about his/her decision.”
India struggle but pull off close win against Japan
After a long delay and several inspections, the officials finally decided on a five-over match, and Iyer won the toss and opted to bat. Left-arm spinner Charlie Hara-Hinze, who had dismissed Vaibhav Sooryavanshi in 2024, got Abhishek Sharma out for a golden duck less than a week after the latter had smashed the fastest T20I hundred against a Full Member.
Barring Iyer (16 not out in 12 balls), no Indian batter really got going. They finished on 32-4 as Japan bowled five overs of spin on a pitch that often turned square and an outfield slowed by rain.
India responded with five overs of spin as well. At 8-2 after two overs, it seemed Japan had run out of steam, but Ravi Bishnoi’s 10-run over brought Japan into the game. Captain Kendel Kadowaki-Fleming (12 in 12) left his teammates to score nine in the last over, but they fell short.
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