India might start their T20 World Cup 2026 journey without Jasprit Bumrah, as he is dealing with a fever on matchday. The team management is cautious and prefers to avoid risks early in the tournament. According to the Indian Express, Mohammed Siraj is likely to replace Bumrah in the match against the USA at Wankhede Stadium, after being called back to the squad due to Harshit Rana’s injury.
Although Bumrah was seen during India’s pre-match practice, he did not take part in the training. The situation looks uncertain, especially as Washington Sundar continues his recovery from an injury. Siraj rejoined the Indian team on February 6 and is ready to return to T20I play after nearly two years.
India may change their opening partnership, with Ishan Kishan expected to open alongside Abhishek Sharma, instead of Sanju Samson. Kishan has been in good form, scoring 76 and 103 in the recent T20I series against New Zealand and following that up with a quick 53 off 20 balls in a World Cup warm-up against South Africa.
This match will be the first encounter between India and the USA since their clash at the 2024 T20 World Cup, where the USA provided a tough challenge before Suryakumar Yadav led India to victory. While India is expected to win, the unpredictable nature of T20 Cricket always allows for surprises, highlighting that no team is invincible.
As India enters the tournament, they hope to maintain their strong position. Successfully defending the title would make them the first team to do so and win the trophy on home ground.