The atmosphere at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai is noticeably vibrant as the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 progresses. In the third match, the defending champions, India, are set to play against a determined United States of America (USA) team on Sunday, February 07. However, just before the toss, concerns arose within the Indian team when it was confirmed that pace bowler Jasprit Bumrah would not be playing.
This match is crucial for India as they kick off their title defense on home turf. Bumrah’s absence has prompted a last-minute change in strategy for captain Suryakumar Yadav.
Suryakumar Yadav shares update on Jasprit Bumrah
During the toss, which saw the USA choose to bowl first, Suryakumar confirmed Bumrah’s unexpected absence. Despite favorable batting conditions at Wankhede, the captain acknowledged the team’s challenge.
“We wanted to bat first. The conditions look good here. I’ve played plenty of games here. There’s some wind, so I doubt there will be much dew later. There will be pressure, but it’s a new tournament, and we aim to continue our form from the past couple of years. It feels lively before the game, and I’m sure it will be even more exciting once we start batting. Washington Sundar is also out, and Sanju Samson is not playing. Jasprit Bumrah isn’t well, so Mohammed Siraj will step in.”
Reports indicate that Bumrah is unavailable due to a viral fever. The BCCI medical team is taking precautions to ensure he recovers fully for the tougher matches ahead. Mohammed Siraj, who joined the squad as a replacement for Harshit Rana, will take over the bowling duties.
IND vs USA: Playing XI for both teams
India’s lineup sees additional changes. The explosive opening pair of Ishan Kishan and Abhishek Sharma will play, with Sanju Samson left out of the starting eleven. The USA team, captained by Monank Patel, features several players of Indian descent, adding an interesting dimension to the match.
India: Ishan Kishan (wk), Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Suryakumar Yadav (c), Rinku Singh, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Arshdeep Singh, Mohammed Siraj, Varun Chakaravarthy.
United States of America: Andries Gous (wk), Saiteja Mukkamalla, Monank Patel (c), Milind Kumar, Sanjay Krishnamurthi, Shubham Ranjane, Harmeet Singh, Mohammad Mohsin, Shadley van Schalkwyk, Ali Khan, Saurabh Netravalkar.
