T20 World Cup
India began their ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 campaign with a hard-fought 29-run win over the United States at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Saturday. A nervy start with both bat and ball tested the defending champions, but captain Suryakumar Yadav’s sensational unbeaten 84 and a disciplined bowling performance ensured India opened their title defence on a winning note.
India posted 161/9 after recovering from a shocking collapse at 77/6, thanks entirely to Suryakumar’s masterclass under pressure. In response, USA fought bravely through a 58-run stand between Milind Kumar and Sanjay Krishnamurthi but ultimately ended on 132/8, falling short despite a spirited performance.
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India’s batting: From collapse to rescue act
Sent in to bat, India were rocked early. Abhishek Sharma fell for a golden duck, and the top-order continued to tumble as Ishan Kishan (20), Tilak Varma (25) and Shivam Dube (0) all departed in a chaotic powerplay. Shadley van Schalkwyk dismantled India’s top order with a sensational spell, finishing with 4/25.
At 46/4 after six overs and later 77/6, India were in deep trouble before Suryakumar Yadav took full control. Mixing composure with calculated aggression, he crafted an unbeaten 84 off 49 deliveries—decorated with 10 fours and four sixes—to lift India from the brink. Support came in small bursts from Rinku Singh, Axar Patel (14) and tail-enders, but it was SKY’s late assault, including a 21-run final over, that pushed India to a fighting total of 161/9.
USA’s reply: Early collapse, late resistance but not enough
USA began their chase poorly, slipping to 13/3 as Mohammed Siraj (3/29) and Arshdeep Singh (2/18) tore through the top order. Milind Kumar (34) and Sanjay Krishnamurthi (37) mounted an impressive fightback, stitching a 58-run partnership that briefly threatened to flip the contest.
Once Varun Chakravarthy broke the stand, India regained full control. Axar Patel’s crucial double strike in the 16th over removed Sanjay and Harmeet Singh, and USA eventually finished at 132/8, 29 runs short of the target.
Shubham Ranjane’s unbeaten 37 off 22 balls provided late entertainment, but India’s disciplined bowling attack ensured the game stayed in their grasp.
Suryakumar: “I knew if I stayed till the end, I could make a difference”
Reflecting on his match-winning knock, Suryakumar admitted the pressure was immense but familiar.
“Only I can tell how much pressure I was feeling, but I had the belief. I knew if I batted till the end, I could make a difference. I’ve played in similar situations before in Mumbai—Azad Maidan, Cross Maidan—so I backed myself,” he said.
He acknowledged India’s top-order struggles, noting the wicket played differently from a typical Wankhede pitch. “We could have batted a little better or a little smarter,” he added.
The knock also earned him his 17th T20I Player of the Match award, the most for India, surpassing Virat Kohli.
Coach Gautam Gambhir: “A masterclass under pressure”
Head coach Gautam Gambhir praised his captain’s innings, calling it one of the finest pressure knocks in T20 cricket.
“To start with, that was a masterclass. That was outstanding,” Gambhir said in a video released by the BCCI. “Under the pressure we were in, I thought it was unbelievable.”
Gambhir also said the innings was a wake-up call for the team, stressing the need to adapt better to challenging conditions.
Suryakumar echoed the sentiment, calling the narrow escape an “important eye-opener” for the squad as they prepare for tougher fixtures ahead.
Sachin Tendulkar: “A calm finish after a tense start”
Legendary batter Sachin Tendulkar also praised India’s performance, highlighting both the resilience shown by the hosts and the spirited challenge from the USA.
“A tense start, but a calm finish for Team India,” Sachin wrote on X. “USA’s energy and enthusiasm were promising—they came close to giving us nervous moments, but Suryakumar’s composure guided India to a respectable total. Our bowlers did the rest.”
His message acknowledged the significance of associate teams stepping up on the big stage, calling USA’s performance “promising” for world cricket.
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