Hosts recover from early collapse; Suryakumar’s unbeaten 84 powers India to 29-run victory
Mumbai: India began their ICC T20 World Cup 2026 campaign on a confident note, overcoming a nervy start to defeat the United States by 29 runs at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Saturday.
After being put into bat first, India stumbled early on a slow, two-paced wicket, collapsing to 46 for 4 in the Powerplay. Abhishek Sharma was dismissed for a golden duck by Ali Khan, while Shadley van Schalkwyk wreaked havoc in the final over of the Powerplay, claiming three quick wickets and putting the hosts firmly on the back foot.
Amid the collapse, Suryakumar Yadav played a superb fighting innings, anchoring the Indian batting effort with an unbeaten 84 off 49 balls. Despite regular wickets, Suryakumar’s calculated aggression and decisive strokeplay ensured India recovered to post a competitive 161 for 9.
Van Schalkwyk finished as the pick of the bowlers with figures of 4 for 25, giving the USA their best chance in the contest. However, India’s bowling unit responded well in the chase to restrict the visitors.
In reply, the USA managed 132 for 8, with India’s Mohammed Siraj returning excellent figures of 3 for 29 to stifle the American chase at crucial junctures.
The win sets up a promising start for India’s tournament journey, combining resilience with match-winning individual performance. With momentum on their side, India now turn their attention to their next group fixture against Namibia on February 12.
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