On a bustling evening at Mumbai’s iconic Wankhede Stadium, India launched its ICC T20 World Cup 2026 campaign with a hard-fought 29-run win over the United States—a match that, on paper, might look comfortable, but in reality, was anything but. The clash on February 7 saw both teams grappling with early setbacks, tactical bowling changes, and moments of individual brilliance that kept the contest alive until the final overs.
The stakes were high for India, the defending champions, as they aimed to become the first team to defend a T20 World Cup title. The USA, buoyed by their Super 8 finish in the 2024 edition and a memorable win over Pakistan, entered the match with confidence and a sense of occasion. USA captain Monank Patel, after winning the toss, opted to bowl first, citing the ground’s reputation for high scores and the advantage of knowing the target. "We're going to bowl first. Looks like a really good surface. It's known to be a high-scoring ground and once we know the target it will be easy for us to plan it out," Monank said at the toss, adding, "World Cup is one of the biggest stages in world sport. We carry a lot of expectations and hopes from the US so we want to perform well and do our best. It's a dream come true for a lot of players."
India, led by Suryakumar Yadav in the absence of regulars Jasprit Bumrah, Sanju Samson, and Washington Sundar, had its own plans. “We were looking to bat first. It looks good here. I played a lot of cricket here. There's a wind around as well, so I don't think there'll be a lot of dew later on. Of course there'll be a little bit of pressure. We can't run away from that fact, but then new tournament, we want to play the same way how we've been playing in the last one or two years and continue the same thing,” Suryakumar said before the first ball was bowled.
The Indian innings started on a rocky note. USA’s bowlers, especially Shadley van Schalkwyk, came out firing, snaring four wickets within the powerplay and threatening to derail India’s plans. Shadley led the charge with three wickets, including the crucial scalps of openers Abhishek Sharma and Ishan Kishan. The Americans kept the pressure on with smart field placements and disciplined lines, forcing Indian batters into errors. There were moments of fortune for India—Kishan survived a dropped chance at mid-wicket and another return catch was spilled—but the USA’s relentless approach ensured India was reeling at 4 for not many inside the first six overs.
Amidst the chaos, Suryakumar Yadav stood tall. Coming to the crease with his team in trouble, he first focused on stabilizing the innings before gradually shifting gears. His unbeaten 84 off 53 balls was a captain’s knock in every sense—full of calculated aggression, deft placement, and the ability to pick gaps under pressure. "Are you enjoying watching the fours and sixes being hit or not?" Suryakumar quipped post-match when asked about the team’s left-handed-heavy batting order. He added, "I think it is a good headache and I feel it is an over-rated conversation. At this stage, when you have played so much cricket against the left-arm spinners or off-spinners, whatever it is, you have played enough cricket and you (also) have practiced a lot."
Despite Suryakumar’s heroics, wickets kept tumbling at the other end. Axar Patel’s attempt to accelerate ended with a catch in the deep, Rinku Singh’s big-hitting gamble was cut short, and the USA bowlers continued to pick up timely breakthroughs. Yet, with Suryakumar anchoring, India managed to post 161 runs—a total that looked imposing given the pitch’s unpredictable nature. As Robin Uthappa observed in commentary, "this is a ‘live grass’ surface. When the ball hits the seam, it tends to hold up, but deliveries that hit the leather skid on sharply." This contrast made life tough for batters, especially against India’s spinners.
Chasing 162, USA’s reply started with intent but soon unraveled under the relentless pressure of India’s attack. Mohammed Siraj, seizing his opportunity in Bumrah’s absence, struck early and often. He capped off the match by trapping Shubham Ranjane lbw with a perfect yorker—a fitting finish for the pacer who stepped in at the last moment. Axar Patel delivered a decisive over, removing both Sanjay Krishnamurthi and Harmeet Singh (the latter for a golden duck), turning the chase firmly in India’s favor. Varun Chakravarthy’s guile accounted for Milind Kumar, who misread a sharp delivery and was stumped in a moment that summed up USA’s struggles against spin.
The Indian spinners, exploiting the surface’s dual pace, kept the scoring in check and chipped away at the middle order. USA’s hopes flickered with a few cameos, but regular wickets meant they could never truly accelerate. The Americans’ discipline with the ball in the first innings was matched by their resolve with the bat, but the class and experience of India’s bowlers proved too much. The USA eventually folded, unable to recover from the double blows delivered by Axar and the clever rotations orchestrated by Suryakumar Yadav.
India’s XI for the night featured Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan (wk), Tilak Varma, Suryakumar Yadav (captain), Hardik Pandya, Rinku Singh, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Arshdeep Singh, Mohammed Siraj, and Varun Chakravarthy. The USA lined up with Saiteja Mukkamalla, Andries Gous (wk), Monank Patel (captain), Milind Kumar, Sanjay Krishnamurthi, Harmeet Singh, Shubham Ranjane, Mohammad Mohsin, Shadley van Schalkwyk, Saurabh Netravalkar, and Ali Khan. Notably, Saurabh Netravalkar, an IT professional and one of USA’s key bowlers from previous tournaments, led the attack but couldn’t break India’s southpaw opening duo early enough.
Off the field, the Indian team sought blessings at Mumbai’s Siddhivinayak Temple before the match—a tradition that underscored the significance of this World Cup opener. Meanwhile, cricket fans were abuzz with the possibility of an India–Pakistan showdown on February 15, as the PCB reconsidered its boycott, reigniting hopes of the sport’s most storied rivalry lighting up the tournament.
For India, this victory was more than just a winning start; it was a testament to resilience under pressure, adaptability in the face of adversity, and the ability to find heroes in unexpected places. For the USA, the match offered valuable lessons and flashes of promise, especially with the ball in the powerplay. As the tournament unfolds, both teams will look to build on their experiences—India with the confidence of champions, and the USA with the hunger to upset the established order.
With the Wankhede crowd roaring and the World Cup energy palpable, India’s campaign is officially underway. Next up: new challenges, old rivals, and the unyielding pursuit of cricketing glory.