India vs Japan T20I: Know India’s First Match Against Every T20I Opponent

India gears up to play their first ever cricket match against Japan on Tuesday, September 22. The two Asian countries, which share strong diplomatic ties will now come together on the sporting front. This historic cricket match is part of the celebrations marking 75 years of India-Japan diplomatic ties.

India have been a force to reckon with in the shortest format of the game. The side has a dominant record against every other team with a better head-to-head record. As the popularity of cricket continues to grow across the world, this match will mark a new chapter for the sport in Asia and beyond.

In this article, we will look at when India played each of its T20I opponents for the first time and the result of those matches.

When India Played Their First-Ever T20I Against Each Team?

1. Australia (December 1, 2006)

India played their first ever T20I match against the Proteas at New Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg, where India won the match by 6 wickets. Since then the two have played out some interesting matches and produced so many superstars from their teams. 

Who can forget the most iconic matches played between the two sides is ICC T20 World Cup 2024 final, where India made a stunning comeback to win the match and lift their second title.

• Match Result: India won by 6 wickets

• Head-to-Head Record: Total Matches: 37 | India Won: 22 | Australia Won: 12 | Tied: 0 | No Result: 0 

2. Scotland (September 13, 2007)

India have played their second ever clash against Scotland in the T20 World Cup 2007, which ended in no result due to rain. The match took place at Kingsmead in Durban, and since then India have only played one more match against the side. Scotland is an associate nation that is continuously making their presence in T20 World Cups, but still they need more improvement.

• Match Result: No result

• Head-to-Head Record: Total Matches: 2 | India won: 1 | Scotland won: 0 | NR: 1

3. Pakistan (September 14, 2007)

One of the most intense rivalries of the cricketing world, India vs Pakistan, and their initial game took place in T20 World Cup 2007. The match ended in a tie where India won by 3-0 in a bowl-out in one of the most remembered games of that format. India have been largely dominated over Pakistan with back-to-back wins and in recent times India have completely outplayed Pakistan across Asia Cups and T20 World Cups.

• Match Result: Match tied; India won 3-0 in the bowl-out

• Head-to-Head Record: Total Matches: 17 | India Won: 13 | Pakistan Won: 3 | Tied: 0 | No Result: 0 | Tie+India Won: 1 

4. New Zealand (September 16, 2007)

Another rivalry between two top cricketing sides, India and New Zealand. India played their first-ever game against the Kiwis at Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg on September 16, 2007, where India lost by 10 runs. 

After that, New Zealand have been quite dominant against India, especially in the last decade but things have drastically turned around since then. India's recent ICC T20 World Cup 2026 win against New Zealand in the final clearly shows that.

• Match Result: India lost by 10 runs

• Total Matches: 31 | India Won: 11 | New Zealand Won: 17 | Tied: 1 | No Result: 0 | Tie+India Won: 2

5. England (September 19, 2007)

England have been a force in the shortest format of the game, and it is quite visible in the T20 format as well. The two sides share an intense rivalry, and India played their first match against England on September 19, 2007, where India won by 18 runs. This was also the match where Yuvraj Singh's famous six sixes in an over were scored.

• Match Result: India won by 18 runs

• Total Matches: 35 | India Won: 16 | England Won: 18 | Tied: 0 | No Result: 1

6. Australia (September 22, 2007)

India played their first-ever match against the mighty Aussies in the 2007 T20 World Cup on September 22, 2007, at Kingsmead in Durban. Despite Australia's dominance across ODIs and Tests, India have been largely ahead of them in the T20I format throughout.

• Match Result: India won by 15 runs

• Total Matches: 37 | India Won: 22 | Australia Won: 12 | Tied: 0 | No Result: 0

7. Sri Lanka (February 10, 2009)

Now coming to Sri Lanka, another important Asian cricketing nation with which India played their first game in February 2009 at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo. The match was won by India. One iconic clash between the two sides came in the T20 World Cup 2014 final, where India suffered heartbreak.

• Match Result: India won by 3 runs

• Total Matches: 33 | India Won: 21 | Sri Lanka Won: 9 | Tied: 0 | No Result: 3 | Tie+India Won: 2

8. Bangladesh (June 6, 2009)

Bangladesh, against whom India hold a very dominant record in the T20I format. The Asian neighbours played against each other for the first time on June 6, 2009, at Trent Bridge in Nottingham. India won the match by 25 runs.

Since then, the two Asian neighbours have faced each other several times in the shortest format, with India maintaining a strong record over Bangladesh.

• Match Result: India won by 25 runs

• Total Matches: 18 | India Won: 17 | Bangladesh Won: 1 | Tied: 0 | No Result: 0

9. Ireland (June 10, 2009)

India played their first-ever T20I against Ireland on June 10, 2009, at Trent Bridge in Nottingham. Since then, the two sides have met several times in the shortest format, with India holding a dominant record against Ireland.

• Match Result: India won by 8 wickets

• Total Matches: 10 | India Won: 8 | Ireland Won: 2 | Tied: 0 | No Result: 0

10. West Indies (June 12, 2009)

The West Indies, the Caribbean side that remains a powerhouse in the T20 format, have been one of India's regular opponents in the shortest format. However, their charm has been fading away in recent years. India played their first game against the West Indies on June 12, 2009, at the iconic Lord's.

• Match Result: India won by 7 wickets

• Total Matches: 31 | India Won: 20 | West Indies Won: 10 | Tied: 0 | No Result: 1

11. Afghanistan (June 2010)

India and Afghanistan have been enjoying strong cricketing ties in recent times, with the two sides also meeting in several important T20I contests. India recently whitewashed Afghanistan 3-0 in a T20I series. Their first T20I meeting came in 2010, with India winning the match.

• Match Result: India won by 7 wickets

• Total Matches: 12 | India Won: 10 | Afghanistan Won: 1 | Tied: 0 | No Result: 1

12. Zimbabwe (June 12, 2010)

India played their first T20I against Zimbabwe at Harare Sports Club on June 12, 2010, where India won by six wickets. Since then, India have maintained a dominant record against Zimbabwe in the shortest format.

• Match Result: India won by 6 wickets

• Total Matches: 17 | India Won: 14 | Zimbabwe Won: 3 | Tied: 0 | No Result: 0

13. United Arab Emirates (February 28, 2016)

India played their first T20I against the United Arab Emirates in the 2016 Asia Cup. India won the match comfortably and have maintained a perfect record against the UAE in the format.

• Match Result: India won by 9 wickets

• Total Matches: 2 | India Won: 2 | UAE Won: 0 | Tied: 0 | No Result: 0

14. Namibia (October 12, 2021)

India played Namibia for the first time in T20Is during the 2021 T20 World Cup. India won the match comfortably, and the two sides have met only twice in the format so far.

• Match Result: India won by 9 wickets

• Total Matches: 2 | India Won: 2 | Namibia Won: 0 | Tied: 0 | No Result: 0

15. Hong Kong (August 31, 2022)

India played their only T20I against Hong Kong during the 2022 Asia Cup. India won the match convincingly and have maintained a perfect record against the Asian side.

• Match Result: India won by 40 runs

• Total Matches: 1 | India Won: 1 | Hong Kong Won: 0 | Tied: 0 | No Result: 0

16. Netherlands (October 27, 2022)

India played their first T20I against the Netherlands during the 2022 T20 World Cup. India won the match by 56 runs, and the two sides have faced each other twice in the format.

• Match Result: India won by 56 runs

• Total Matches: 2 | India Won: 2 | Netherlands Won: 0 | Tied: 0 | No Result: 0

17. Nepal (September 4, 2023)

India played their only T20I against Nepal during the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou. The match ended without a result due to rain.

• Match Result: No result

• Total Matches: 1 | India Won: 0 | Nepal Won: 0 | Tied: 0 | No Result: 1

18. United States of America (June 12, 2024)

India played their first T20I against the United States during the 2024 T20 World Cup. The USA put up a strong performance against India in that match. 

• Match Result: India won by 7 wickets

• Total Matches: 2 | India Won: 2 | USA Won: 0 | Tied: 0 | No Result: 0

19. Oman (September 19, 2025)

India played their first T20I against Oman during the 2025 Asia Cup. India won the match comfortably, making it a perfect start to their T20I record against the associate nation.

• Match Result: India won by 21 runs

• Total Matches: 1 | India Won: 1 | Oman Won: 0 | Tied: 0 | No Result: 0