India held their nerve to secure a 29-run victory over the USA in their T20 World Cup opener, successfully defending 161 as the USA were bowled out for 132. The win was powered by a captain’s knock from Suryakumar Yadav and a clinical bowling performance led by Mohammed Siraj, who stepped in as a late replacement for the ill Jasprit Bumrah.
India made an excellent start with the ball, keeping the USA under pressure throughout the first half of the chase. Arshdeep Singh struck early, while Siraj rocked the top order with two quick wickets in the powerplay to leave the USA in early trouble. Varun Chakaravarthy then delivered a key breakthrough in the middle overs, dismissing Milind Kumar with a smart stumping by Ishan Kishan.
Despite a few boundaries from Milind Kumar and Sanjay Krishnamurthi, India’s spinners tightened the screws, conceding very few runs between overs 7 and 12. Hardik Pandya leaked some runs, but overall India maintained control, with Axar Patel and Chakaravarthy keeping things tight.
At the end of 15 overs, the USA were 98/4, with Sanjay Krishnamurthi and Shubham Ranjane attempting to rebuild as India remained firmly in control of the chase.
Earlier, India endured a dramatic start with the bat, losing wickets in a heap during the powerplay. Abhishek Sharma was dismissed for a duck early, while Ishan Kishan provided some momentum with 20 off 16 balls before falling in the sixth over. Tilak Varma (25 off 16) and Shivam Dube (duck) also perished in quick succession, leaving India reeling at 46/4 as the USA bowlers dominated the early phase.
Suryakumar Yadav then anchored the recovery alongside Rinku Singh, but Rinku struggled for fluency and was dismissed for 6 off 13. Hardik Pandya made a brief cameo before departing for 5, as India slipped to 94/6 by the 15th over. Axar Patel added valuable late runs with a quick 14 off 10, while Arshdeep Singh chipped in with a boundary before falling late.
SKY carried the innings with a captain’s knock, accelerating in the death overs with a flurry of boundaries and sixes. He smashed 84 off 49 balls, including a blistering final over, to drag India to a competitive 161/9 in 20 overs after they had been reduced to 46/4 in the powerplay.
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USA post 132/8 in 20 overs
Unlike India’s 16th over, the USA innings unraveled under pressure as Axar Patel struck in the 17th, removing Sanjay Krishnamurthi and then dismissing Harmeet Singh, who had just walked in. Mohammad Mohsin replaced him, but the over yielded just two runs, tightening India’s grip on the chase.
Hardik Pandya followed with a disciplined 18th over, conceding only four runs. The 19th over saw Arshdeep Singh provide a breakthrough moment—he first gave away a boundary to Mohsin before dismissing him, with Shadley van Schalkwyk arriving and helping USA collect seven runs from the over.
In the penultimate over, Pandya was finally punished as Shubham Ranjane launched a maximum, taking 10 runs off the over and giving USA a late push. Mohammed Siraj then came on for the final over, conceding a four and a six to Ranjane before delivering a pinpoint yorker to trap him lbw and seal the game.
The United States finished on 132/8, as India clinched a comfortable 29-run victory.
USA post 98/4 in 15 overs
Hardik Pandya returned for the 11th over, and USA finally found some momentum. Milind Kumar struck a boundary before Sanjay Krishnamurthi launched a six off the final ball, making it a 14-run over and lifting the scoring rate.
Varun Chakravarthy struck back in the 12th with a crucial breakthrough. Sanjay picked up a boundary early in the over, but Milind Kumar was dismissed in dramatic fashion. The googly beat his bat, and thinking the ball had gone past the keeper, he stepped out of his crease. Ishan Kishan reacted quickly to whip off the bails, catching Milind short of his ground.
Shubham Ranjane walked in and struck a boundary off Hardik Pandya as USA added seven runs in the 13th over.
Axar Patel bowled the 14th, where Sanjay Krishnamurthi began with a towering six before rotating the strike to collect singles. The over went for 11 runs, keeping USA in the chase.
Varun returned for the 15th and kept things tight, but Ranjane managed a six off the final ball to close the over. After 15 overs, USA are 98/4, still needing a big finish but India holding the upper hand.
USA post 49/3 in 10 overs
Mohammed Siraj kept things tight in the sixth over, though Milind Kumar found a boundary as USA managed seven runs from it. Varun Chakravarthy was introduced in the seventh and bowled a controlled over, conceding just five runs to maintain the pressure.
Axar Patel then struck in the eighth, giving away only three runs and further slowing the scoring rate. Varun followed it up with another disciplined over, leaking just two runs in the ninth as India tightened the screws on the American middle order.
Axar returned for the tenth and although Milind Kumar struck a six, the over yielded only eight runs. At the halfway stage, USA are 49/3, with India firmly on top after a dominant bowling display.
USA post 24/3 in 5 overs
Arshdeep Singh took the new ball for India, with Andries Gous and Saiteja Mukkamalla opening for the USA. The left-arm pacer kept things tight, conceding just two runs in the first over, which included a wide and a leg-bye.
Mohammed Siraj struck early in the second over as Gous smashed a six off the second ball but was dismissed soon after, caught by Tilak Varma. USA captain Monank Patel walked in next but failed to settle, falling in the third over to Arshdeep, caught by Shivam Dube.
Milind Kumar joined the crease and managed just a single in the third over as India tightened the screws. Siraj continued his fiery spell in the fourth, removing Saiteja Mukkamalla, who was caught by Varun Chakravarthy. Sanjay Krishnamurthi came in to steady the innings.
Milind finally broke the shackles with a boundary in the fifth over, but USA still struggled, reaching 24/3 after five overs, with India firmly on top in the powerplay.
USA post 24/3 in 5 overs
Arshdeep Singh took the new ball for India, with Andries Gous and Saiteja Mukkamalla opening for the USA. The left-arm pacer kept things tight, conceding just two runs in the first over, which included a wide and a leg-bye.
Mohammed Siraj struck early in the second over as Gous smashed a six off the second ball but was dismissed soon after, caught by Tilak Varma. USA captain Monank Patel walked in next but failed to settle, falling in the third over to Arshdeep, caught by Shivam Dube.
Milind Kumar joined the crease and managed just a single in the third over as India tightened the screws. Siraj continued his fiery spell in the fourth, removing Saiteja Mukkamalla, who was caught by Varun Chakravarthy. Sanjay Krishnamurthi came in to steady the innings.
Milind finally broke the shackles with a boundary in the fifth over, but USA still struggled, reaching 24/3 after five overs, with India firmly on top in the powerplay.
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India post 161/9 in 20 overs
In the 16th over, Axar Patel took charge to push India past the 100-run mark, striking two consecutive boundaries before Suryakumar Yadav joined the party with a four and a six. India collected a massive 21 runs from the over to revive the innings.
The 17th over brought another setback as Axar Patel departed for 14 off 10 balls, dismissed by Harmeet Singh. Arshdeep Singh walked in and managed to find the boundary as India kept the scoreboard ticking.
Suryakumar started the 18th over with a four, with India managing six runs from the over. In the 19th, SKY continued to farm the strike, smashing a four and a six, but Arshdeep Singh was dismissed for 4 off 5 balls, caught by Milind Kumar off Shadley van Schalkwyk. With one over left, India were 140/8.
Varun Chakravarthy joined SKY for the final over, and the India captain produced a sensational finish. He hammered a four and two consecutive sixes, followed by another boundary, despite being struck on the arm. SKY eventually fell on the final ball for a brilliant 84 off 49 balls, lifting India to a competitive 161/9 in 20 overs.
India at 94/6 in 15 overs
In the 11th over, Suryakumar Yadav found the boundary, taking India to 70/4 as the hosts tried to rebuild. However, the 12th over brought another setback, with Rinku Singh departing for 6 off 13 balls, dismissed by Mohammad Mohsin and caught by Milind Kumar.
Hardik Pandya walked in next and struck a boundary in the 13th over but couldn’t stay long, falling for 5 off 5 balls to Harmeet Singh, caught by Saiteja Mukkamalla. Axar Patel joined Suryakumar at the crease as India continued to steady the innings. SKY kept the scoreboard ticking with boundaries in the 14th and 15th overs, helping India reach 94/6 after 15 overs.
India at 63/4 in 10 overs
The sixth over delivered a hat-trick of shocks for India as the USA turned the game on its head with a stunning triple strike. Shadley van Schalkwyk first removed Ishan Kishan for 20 off 16 balls, with Milind Kumar completing a sharp catch in the deep. On the very next delivery, Tilak Varma (25 off 16) also departed, caught by skipper Monank Patel, before debutant Shivam Dube fell for a golden duck, caught by Saurabh Netravalkar to cap off a sensational over. From a comfortable 44/1, India suddenly found themselves reeling at 46/4, handing the momentum firmly to the Americans.
Rinku Singh walked in to steady the innings, while captain Suryakumar Yadav began rebuilding with a couple of crisp boundaries off Shubham Ranjane. At the halfway mark, India reached 63/4 after 10 overs, with the USA firmly on top after an outstanding powerplay and early middle-overs burst.
India at 44/1 in 5 overs
Ishan Kishan and Abhishek Sharma opened the innings for India, with Saurabh Netravalkar taking the new ball for the USA. Kishan got India off to a positive start, driving a six and collecting a single in the opening over.
The second over brought an early setback for the hosts as Abhishek Sharma was dismissed on the very first ball he faced, caught straight by Sanjay Krishnamurthi off Ali Khan. It was a big blow for India, losing their aggressive opener cheaply.
Tilak Varma walked in at No. 3 and counter-attacked immediately, smashing a six and two fours in the third over to keep the scoreboard ticking. Kishan continued to find the boundaries, striking two consecutive fours in the fifth over as India moved to 44/1.
Captains take after the toss
USA Captain Monank Patel:
“We will bowl first. It is a good surface, and it is a high-scoring ground. It would be easy for us to plan our chase knowing the score. It is a big moment for us to play in India. It is a great feeling to represent the USA. Everyone is confident,” Monank Patel said.
India skipper Suryakumar Yadav:
“We were looking to bat first as the pitch looks good. I don’t think there will be a lot of dew in the second innings. We are under pressure, but we want to play the way we have been doing for a long time. The pitch will be good for 40 overs. Bumrah misses out as he is unwell and Sirja is playing in his place,” he said.
India vs. USA T20 World Cup: Playing XIs
India: Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan (wk), Tilak Varma, Suryakumar Yadav (capt), Hardik Pandya, Rinku Singh, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Arshdeep Singh, Mohammed Siraj, Varun Chakravarthy
Presenting teamindia's Playing XI for our opening game
Updates ▶️ https://t.co/Rlm2ARPnOVmeninblue | t20worldcup | indvusa pic.twitter.com/NwiHkAvNbg
— BCCI (@BCCI) February 7, 2026
USA: Saiteja Mukkamalla, Andries Gous (wk), Monank Patel (capt), Milind Kumar, Sanjay Krishnamurthi, Harmeet Singh, Shubham Ranjane, Mohammad Mohsin, Shadley van Schalkwyk, Saurabh Netravalkar, Ali Khan
India vs. USA T20 World Cup: Playing XIs
India: Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan (wk), Tilak Varma, Suryakumar Yadav (capt), Hardik Pandya, Rinku Singh, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Arshdeep Singh, Mohammed Siraj, Varun Chakravarthy
Presenting teamindia's Playing XI for our opening game
Updates ▶️ https://t.co/Rlm2ARPnOVmeninblue | t20worldcup | indvusa pic.twitter.com/NwiHkAvNbg
— BCCI (@BCCI) February 7, 2026
USA: Saiteja Mukkamalla, Andries Gous (wk), Monank Patel (capt), Milind Kumar, Sanjay Krishnamurthi, Harmeet Singh, Shubham Ranjane, Mohammad Mohsin, Shadley van Schalkwyk, Saurabh Netravalkar, Ali Khan
India at 44/1 in 5 overs
Ishan Kishan and Abhishek Sharma opened the innings for India, with Saurabh Netravalkar taking the new ball for the USA. Kishan got India off to a positive start, driving a six and collecting a single in the opening over.
The second over brought an early setback for the hosts as Abhishek Sharma was dismissed on the very first ball he faced, caught straight by Sanjay Krishnamurthi off Ali Khan. It was a big blow for India, losing their aggressive opener cheaply.
Tilak Varma walked in at No. 3 and counter-attacked immediately, smashing a six and two fours in the third over to keep the scoreboard ticking. Kishan continued to find the boundaries, striking two consecutive fours in the fifth over as India moved to 44/1.