Under the floodlights of three iconic cities; Colombo, Kolkata, and Mumbai, the 10th edition of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup officially begins today. While 20 teams prepare to battle across 55 games for a spot in the March 8 final, the tournament enters its opening day shadowed by off-field diplomacy and a last-minute injury to the host nation's squad.
The Men in Blue, enjoying a successful streak in T20Is, are optimistic about their prospects of winning. Apart from concentrating on the game, captain Suryakumar Yadav faces the challenging responsibility of addressing questions related to international diplomacy. The situation has been complicated by the exclusion of Bangladesh and Pakistan's recent decision to boycott the match against India in Colombo.
The lead-up to today’s festivities has been "soured" by two major controversies:
Bangladesh's removal: Replaced by Scotland after refusing to travel to India.
Pakistan’s selective boycott: The decision to skip the India fixture in Colombo remains the elephant in the room for the ICC and Captain Suryakumar Yadav.
In a major blow to India’s pace battery, Harshit Rana has been ruled out of the entire tournament due to a knee injury sustained during the warm-up against South Africa.
Mohammed Siraj has been drafted into the squad.
Siraj hasn't played a T20I since July 2024. With only 16 T20Is under his belt and an economy of 7.79, he will need to find his rhythm instantly in the high-pressure Mumbai opener.
| Match | Venue | Time (IST) | The Narrative |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pakistan vs. Netherlands | Colombo, SL | Afternoon | Pakistan faces a "must-win" mental test amid boycott headlines. |
| West Indies vs. Scotland | Kolkata, IND | Afternoon | Former champs WI seek to avoid a repeat of past Associate upsets. |
| India vs. USA | Mumbai, IND | 19:00 | The "Men in Blue" begin their title defense at a buzzing Wankhede. |
And with the World Cup and the Indian Premier League focusing heavily on cricket's shortest format in the coming months, the ICC will face a challenging task in ensuring that Tests and ODIs receive the attention they deserve.