USA cricket team announced their arrival in the ICC T20 WC 2026 in a bang. The visitors restricted India for a challenging total of 161-9 in 20 overs. India’s skipper Suryakumar Yadav played a flamboyant knock of 84 runs in 49 balls & hit 10 fours and 4 sixes. USA have a great chance to register their maiden win against India after a near-perfect bowling performance by USA’s bowling unit.
Shadley van Schalwayk rocks India in powerplay overs
Abhishek Sharma, yet again, was dismissed onthe very first ball of the match by Ali Khan in 2nd over of the match. Saurabh Netrawalkar & Shadley van Schalwayk were quite disciplined at the start and bowled wicket to wicket, which made life harder for India batters.
Ishan Kishan was slowly getting into the groove but Shadley van Schalwyk got the better of him in 6th over of the match. Ishan was dismissed on 20 runs in 16 balls as he hit 1 four and 2 sixes. Shadley then took 2 back to back wickets of Tilak Varma & Shivam Dube and dented India’s powerplay. India scored 46 runs for the loss of 4 wickets in 6 overs
Harmeet Singh & Mohammad Mohsin put brakes on scoring rates in middle overs phase
Rinku Singh & Suryakumar Yadav were quite cautious after the top order collapsed. The Wankhede surface proved to be a bit tacky which was quite unlike the history of the surface. Spinners Harmeet Singh & Mohammad Mohsin bowled in tandem and made sure that the boundaries were dried.
Rinku Singh was foxed by Mohsin in 12th over as he failed to take on the long on fielder and was dismissed on 6 runs in 14 balls. Hardik Pandya was undone by Harmeet Singh in 13th over as he couldn’t control his lofted cover drive shot. India once again was in a spot of bother at 77-6 in 12.4 overs. India’s score at the end of 15 overs was 94-6 as Suryakumar Yadav was holding one end but wasn’t getting support
Suryakumar Yadav’s blitz shatters USA
Suryakumar Yadav then unleashed attack in the death overs. Axar Patel played a second fiddle as in 16th over he whacked Saurabh Netrawalkar for 2 boundaries and he was pummelled by both Suryakumar & Axar. Harmeet though negated the threat of Axar Patel in 17th over as he was sent to pavillion by scoring 14 runs in 11 balls. India’s score at that time was 118-6 in 16.4 overs.
Suryakumar Yadav then went into beast mode as he played a barnstorming knock of 84 runs in 49 balls and hit 10 fours and 4 sixes. Saurabh Netrawalkar was taken to the cleaners in his last over (20th over of match) as he scored 21 runs. India scored 67 runs in last 5 overs and lost 3 wickets.
Who’s winning, India or USA?
India would believe that they can win the match given the surface is uneven and two paced. A lot will depend on Mohammed Siraj as Jasprit Bumrah is not playing due to being unwell. USA need to take the game deep as they have ample time to chase 162 runs as start will be crucial if they score 50 runs for the loss of 1 wicket then they would have a chance to win. USA will be hoping that skipper Monank Patel plays a sensible knock and the middle order batters need to be careful against Varun Chakarvarthy & spinners as this encounter can go crazy for home team. USA win looks unlikely but they have the knack of punching above their weights.
Also Read:ICC T20 WC 2026: USA Dethrone India’s Batting Line Up