India vs USA: Suryakumar Yadav’s 84* Lifts India After Early Collapse in T20 World Cup Opener

India escaped an early disaster and still put up a competitive 160 for 8 against the United States in their ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 opener at Wankhede Stadium, a commanding rescue act from captain Suryakumar Yadav after a stunning new-ball spell rattled the top order.

In the India vs USA match, USA chose to field, and India were jolted within the first two overs when Abhishek Sharma caught on his very first ball. The pitch offered bounce and seam movement, and the American quicks exploited it with discipline. Ishan Kishan and Tilak Varma tried to counter with attacking strokes, but the pressure never fully lifted.

The defining burst came at the end of the Powerplay through Shadley van Schalkwyk, whose hostile over flipped the innings. He removed Kishan with a mistimed big shot, hurried Varma with extra lift, and then dismissed Shivam Dube on the first ball to trigger a collapse. From a recovery phase, India slid into trouble at 46 for 4 and later 77 for 6 as Mohammad Mohsin (1/16) and Harmeet Singh (2/26) tightened the squeeze with spin.

With wickets falling and scoring options shrinking, Suryakumar Yadav recalibrated the innings. He began cautiously, absorbing dot balls and rotating strike before expanding his range once set. Working gaps behind square and over the infield, he rebuilt the total alongside Axar Patel, whose brief stay helped stabilize the back end.

The final overs belonged entirely to the Indian skipper. Targeting the death overs, he broke the field open with signature ramps and inside-out lofted drives. Facing Saurabh Netravalkar at the close, Yadav finished with authority, striking two sixes and 2 boundaries in the last over to surge to an unbeaten 84 off 49 balls and push India to a defendable score.

Van Schalkwyk returned figures of 4 for 25, one of the USA’s most impactful spells on a global stage, and ensured the contest stayed alive deep into the innings, even as Suryakumar Yadav’s counterattack changed the final equation.