Suryakumar rescues India as United States threaten T20 World Cup upset | ICC Men’s T20 World Cup News
India Overcomes Early Struggles to Secure 29-Run Victory Over United States in T20 World Cup Opener
India’s captain Suryakumar Yadav played a pivotal role in the team’s 29-run victory against the United States in their opening match of the Twenty20 World Cup on Saturday. The tournament co-hosts rallied from a precarious position at 77-6 to finish their innings at 161-9.
Yadav delivered a standout performance, scoring an unbeaten 84 runs off 49 balls, demonstrating resilience amidst early setbacks. In response, the United States posted 132-8, putting forth a determined effort but ultimately falling short of the target.
The match unfolded at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium, where fans expected aggressive batting after U.S. captain Monank Patel won the toss and opted to field. However, India’s top order faltered, facing a swift collapse that began with opener Abhishek Sharma’s dismissal for a first-ball duck.
The situation worsened in the final Powerplay over, with Shadley van Schalkwyk taking three wickets in five deliveries, leaving India reeling at 46-4. Ishan Kishan (20) and Tilak Varma (25) were unable to convert promising starts, and Shivam Dube fell without scoring during this chaotic period.
Despite the turmoil, Yadav steadied the innings. He reached a rapid fifty off 36 balls and capped off the innings with a surge of 21 runs in the last over bowled by Saurabh Netravalkar.
India played without their pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah, who missed the match due to illness. They were also forced to replace Harshit Rana, who was ruled out of the tournament with a thigh injury just a day before the match.
Mohammed Siraj (3-29), called up as Rana’s replacement, made a significant impact, while Arshdeep Singh contributed to the bowling attack, reducing the U.S. to a shaky 31-3 during the Powerplay.
The United States briefly threatened with a 58-run partnership between Sanjay Krishnamurthi (37) and Milind Kumar (34) but struggled to maintain momentum after their dismissal.
In other matches, Pakistan narrowly defeated the Netherlands by three wickets, thanks to Faheem Ashraf’s timely cameo. Meanwhile, in Kolkata, West Indies bowler Romario Shepherd secured a hat-trick as his team triumphed over Scotland by 35 runs.
