On a night that began with glitz and ended in a sigh of relief, defending champions India opened their 2026 T20 World Cup campaign with a 29-run victory over the United States of America. However, the scorecard tells only half the story of a match that nearly became the biggest upset in this tournament.
Expectations of a 300-run blowout were quickly silenced as the USA used a their might and skill to gag the Mumbai crowd.
India’s aggressive top order faltered on a tacky pitch. Abhishek Sharma fell for a golden duck, and Shadley van Schalkwyk tore through the middle order to leave the hosts wobbling at 46/4.
Shubham Ranjane, a former Mumbai teammate of Suryakumar, dropped a crucial return catch when the Indian captain was on 15. It was the error that cost the USA the match.
Spinners Mohammad Mohsin and Harmeet Singh (another former Mumbai player) kept a "choke hold," dismissing Rinku Singh and Hardik Pandya to leave India reeling at 77/6.
With Axar Patel for company, Suryakumar Yadav shelved his "Bazball" bravado for high-stakes restraint before exploding in the final overs.
The 16th over proved to be the breaker for the USA, as India ransacked 21 runs off Saurabh Netravalkar.
Suryakumar dismantled Netravalkar in the 20th over, hitting a lapped-six and a scooped four. Netravalkar finished with 65 runs conceded-a new T20 World Cup record.
USA's primary pace threat, Ali Khan, hobbled off with an injury mid-over, leaving the visitors vulnerable at the death.
Chasing 162, the USA’s dream faded quickly under the lights as India’s new pace attack took charge.
With Jasprit Bumrah out sick and Harshit Rana injured, Mohammed Siraj played his first T20I in two years. He struck in his first over, dismissing Andries Gous.
Without any dew to assist the batters, Varun Chakaravarthy and Axar Patel strangled the middle order. A 58-run stand between Milind Kumar and Sanjay Krishnamurthi offered some fight, but India’s 161 was the lowest successful defence ever at the Wankhede.
