February 8, 2026, Mumbai : The iconic Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai provided a dramatic backdrop on Saturday, February 7, as defending champions India kicked off their T20 World Cup campaign with a hard-fought 29 run victory over the United States. Despite the final margin, the associate nation pushed the hosts to the brink in a contest defined by a remarkable captain’s recovery and a clinical bowling response under the lights.
Choosing to bowl first after winning the toss, the United States immediately justified their decision by dismantling the Indian top order. The Wankhede crowd watched in disbelief as the hosts plummeted to 46 for 4 during the powerplay. Shadley van Schalkwyk was the architect of this early chaos, producing a sensational spell to remove Ishan Kishan, Tilak Varma, and Shivam Dube in quick succession. When the scorecard slumped further to 77 for 6, an upset seemed within reach for the visitors.
However, captain Suryakumar Yadav stood firm amid the wreckage. Playing on his home ground, the skipper anchored the innings with a masterclass in controlled aggression. He struck 84 runs from 49 deliveries, featuring ten boundaries and four sixes, single-handedly lifting the team toward a respectable total. He found late support from Axar Patel, whose 14 run contribution helped navigate the death overs. Van Schalkwyk finished as the standout performer for the USA, claiming impressive figures of 4 for 25.
Chasing 162 for a historic victory, the United States faced an immediate uphill battle against the Indian pace attack. Arshdeep Singh struck early to remove Monank Patel for a duck, and Mohammed Siraj, returning to the side with intent, kept the pressure high. The American middle order showed significant resolve, with Sanjay Krishnamurthi and Milind Kumar both contributing 37 and 34 runs respectively to keep the chase alive.
The game remained competitive until the closing stages, but India’s experienced bowling unit proved too disciplined to break. Siraj led the charge with a precise final over, finishing with three wickets for 29 runs. Despite a late flurry from Shubham Ranjane, who scored a quick-fire 37, the USA were restricted to 132 for 8 as the required run rate climbed beyond their reach.
Brief Scores
India: 161/9 (20 overs)
Suryakumar Yadav 84* (49), Tilak Varma 25 (16)
Shadley van Schalkwyk 4/25, Harmeet Singh 2/26
United States: 132/8 (20 overs)
Sanjay Krishnamurthi 37 (31), Shubham Ranjane 37 (22)
Mohammed Siraj 3/29, Arshdeep Singh 2/18
Result: India won by 29 runs.
