India began their ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 journey with a 29-run win over the USA at Wankhede Stadium.
India scored 161 runs for 9 wickets in their 20 overs, thanks to a strong performance from their captain. Suryakumar Yadav scored 84 runs off 49 balls, stabilizing the innings despite early wickets falling. His efforts helped set a challenging target for the USA, led by Monank Patel.
The USA started strong but struggled against India’s experienced bowling attack. Axar Patel was the standout bowler, taking two wickets in consecutive balls, helping India gain control of the match. Other bowlers like Mohammed Siraj, who took three wickets, and Arsdheep Singh with two wickets, maintained pressure, as the USA finished with 132 runs for 8 wickets, falling short by 29 runs.
Who Said What?
Suryakumar Yadav, Player of the Match
I always believed that one day I would perform. I focused on holding the innings for the team, and it finally happened. I thought it was a 140-run pitch, and I was encouraged by Gautam to bat till the end after 14 overs. Having played in Mumbai, I’m familiar with such pitches. Despite being 77 for 6, it was important that one batter stayed until the end.
Monank Patel, USA Captain
I think our bowlers did well in assessing the pitch conditions. They had a good start by getting early wickets. Although we missed a few catches, we learned a lot from this game. The biggest positive was how we handled the pressure against India in front of a large crowd. Although our batting didn’t perform as expected, some players showed promise for the next matches.
Suryakumar Yadav, India Captain
At 77 for 6, the pressure was intense, but I trusted my experience in similar situations. The pitch was well-prepared, though the weather conditions affected it. We know we could have batted better, but we have time to regroup before our next match. Washi will join us in Delhi and is good. Bumrah had a fever, but he’s recovering well.
