Put in to bat on a two-paced surface, India were rocked early as Shadley van Schalkwyk exploited movement to trigger a collapse that left the hosts reeling at 46/4 inside the powerplay.
Photo: IANS
Defending champions India were made to work hard by a spirited USA before opening their T20 World Cup Group A campaign with a 29-run victory at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Saturday.
Under pressure after a top-order collapse, Suryakumar Yadav produced a superb rescue act, scoring an unbeaten 84 off 49 balls to lift India to a competitive 161/9. The bowlers then backed it up with a disciplined effort to restrict the USA to 132/8.
Advertisement
Put in to bat on a two-paced surface, India were rocked early as Shadley van Schalkwyk exploited movement to trigger a collapse that left the hosts reeling at 46/4 inside the powerplay.
Advertisement
Abhishek Sharma fell for a golden duck to Ali Khan before van Schalkwyk removed Ishan Kishan (20), Tilak Varma (25) and Shivam Dube in quick succession to disrupt India’s aggressive template.
With wickets tumbling, skipper Suryakumar absorbed the pressure and rebuilt the innings. India were further pushed back by the dismissals of Rinku Singh and Hardik Pandya, slipping to 72/5 in the 12th over. A 41-run stand for the seventh wicket between Suryakumar and Axar Patel helped India cross the 100-run mark, with Suryakumar increasingly taking charge.
The Mumbai local was given a life on 15 when Shubham Ranjane dropped a return catch, and he made the USA pay. Suryakumar brought up his half-century off 36 balls and finished strongly, plundering 21 runs off Saurabh Netravalkar in the final over with two fours and two sixes to push India to respectability.
In reply, India’s pace duo of Arshdeep Singh and Mohammed Siraj struck early to leave the USA struggling at 31/3 inside the powerplay. Milind Kumar (34) and Sanjay Krishnamurthi (37) briefly revived hopes with a 58-run stand for the fourth wicket, but India’s spinners wrested back control.
Varun Chakravarthy outfoxed Milind with a length ball outside off to earn a stumping, while Axar Patel dismissed Krishnamurthi and Harmeet Singh off consecutive deliveries to effectively end the chase.
Siraj finished with 3/29 on his return to T20Is, while Arshdeep claimed 2/18 as India sealed a comfortable win.
Bumrah unwell
India were forced into a late change ahead of the opener, with pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah ruled out due to illness. Mohammed Siraj replaced him in the XI, marking his first T20I appearance since July 2024. India had already lost Harshit Rana to a knee injury during a warm-up match.
Brief scores: India 161/9 (Suryakumar Yadav 84*; Tilak Varma 25; Shadley van Schalkwyk 4/25) beat USA 132/8 (Sanjay Krishnamurthi 37, Milind Kumar 34; Mohammed Siraj 3/29, Arshdeep Singh 2/18, Axar Patel 2/24) by 29 runs.
Advertisement
