The approach of the strong cyclone 'Dozuan', raging in eastern territories of Japan, has created serious obstacles for the upcoming historic match between the Indian and Japanese national teams. Due to adverse weather conditions and heavy rains, the Indian team, led by Shreyas Iyer, was unable to conduct its final pre-match training session.
Cyclone 'Dozuan' has been strongly affecting Japan for the last two days. Strong winds and torrential rains have completely disrupted daily life. The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) warned that the storm is passing near the Tokyo metropolitan area, which could worsen the situation.
As a result of this storm, at least 275 flights were canceled in Japan, and numerous railway services in Tokyo and surrounding areas were suspended. Furthermore, the major video game exhibition 'Tokyo Game Show' was closed early, and equestrian competitions within the Asian Games were postponed until Tuesday as a precaution.
The match between the two countries is scheduled for Tuesday at the Sano International Cricket Stadium, located approximately 100 kilometers from Tokyo. This game holds great significance in the context of celebrating the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two nations, as well as in preparation for the upcoming Asian Games and the Suzuki Cup.
However, due to the storm, the Indian team had to remain off the field, depriving players of their last chance to familiarize themselves with local conditions and pitch characteristics. Before the match, captain Shreyas Iyer highly praised the hospitality of the Japanese people and the general atmosphere, noting that the people are very responsive and kind. Nevertheless, he admitted that the lack of information about local conditions and pitch status could be an issue but assured that the team is fully prepared for this confrontation.
Despite the fact that on paper the T20 World Champion India looks stronger than Japan, which lags significantly in the rankings, all attention is currently focused on the weather conditions.