Sports, Feb 8: Defending champions India opened their 2026 ICC T20 World Cup campaign with a tense 29-run victory over a spirited United States side at the Wankhede Stadium on February 7, recovering from a dramatic batting collapse before holding their nerve with the ball.
India’s innings threatened to unravel after a sensational spell from Shadley van Schalkwyk left the hosts reeling at 77 for six. The USA pacer struck three times in a single over, removing Ishan Kishan, Tilak Varma and Shivam Dube, silencing a packed Wankhede crowd and exposing India’s middle order under pressure.
With the top order dismantled, captain Suryakumar Yadav took responsibility and anchored the recovery with a composed and commanding unbeaten 84 off 49 balls. He rebuilt patiently, rotating the strike and resisting the urge to force shots, before gradually accelerating as support arrived from Axar Patel. Their 41-run partnership proved vital in dragging India back into the contest.
Suryakumar shifted gears in the closing overs, punishing the USA bowlers at the death and plundering 20 runs from the final over to lift India to 161 for nine. Despite the late surge, van Schalkwyk remained the standout bowler, finishing with impressive figures of four for 25.
Chasing 162, the USA began with confidence but suffered an early blow when Arshdeep Singh dismissed captain Monank Patel for a duck. Sanjay Krishnamurthi then steadied the innings, while Milind Kumar provided support through the middle overs as the visitors stayed in touch with the required rate.
The turning point came in the 16th over when Axar Patel struck twice, breaking the momentum of the chase. Mohammed Siraj, returning to the T20I side in place of the injured Harshit Rana, sealed the contest with a disciplined spell at the death. Mixing pace and accuracy, Siraj finished with three for 29, including a decisive final over that extinguished hopes of a late comeback.
The USA were eventually restricted to 132 for eight, a total that reflected India’s bowling control but not the pressure they had endured for much of the match. For India, the win brought relief and a reminder of their resilience, while underlining the need for greater stability at the top. For the USA, the performance served as a statement of intent, pushing the defending champions hard and signalling their arrival as serious competitors on the global stage.
