Guwahati, Sept. 23 -- Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) Secretary Devajit Saikia on Wednesday hailed India's T20I match against Japan as a significant step towards strengthening cricketing ties between the two countries, calling it a "new breakthrough" in friendship between India and Japan.

India and Japan played a thrilling, rain-shortened five-over one-off T20I on Tuesday, with Axar Patel defending eight runs in the final over to seal a two-run win after Japan restricted the reigning world champions to 32/4. Notably, the match was held to mark 75 years of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

Speaking to ANI, Devajit Saikia congratulated the Indian team and said the match against Japan was more than a victory, mar...