The iconic Wankhede Stadium turned into a sea of blue on Saturday as India squared off against the United States of America in the 3rd match of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026. In what was expected to be a straightforward encounter, the partisan Mumbai crowd was treated to a rollercoaster of emotions. While the underdog Americans punched above their weight with a disciplined bowling performance, a captain’s knock from local hero Suryakumar Yadav ensured India secured a 29-run victory, maintaining their dominant start to the tournament.

Suryakumar Yadav plays a captain’s knock after India’s top-order collapse against USA

The match began with a stunned silence as the USA seamers exploited the early evening moisture. Abhishek Sharma fell for a duck in the second over, and the pressure mounted when Ishan Kishan (20) and Tilak Varma (25) were dismissed in quick succession. The Wankhede faithful watched in disbelief as Shivam Dubey walked back for a golden duck, leaving India reeling at 46/4 before the Powerplay had even concluded. Shadley of Schalkwyk was the wrecker-in-chief, finishing with impressive figures of 4/25.

However, the Suryakumar decided to play a different brand of cricket. Stepping into his role as captain, SKY anchored the innings with tactical brilliance. While partners like Rinku Singh and Hardik Pandya struggled to find timing, Suryakumar remained unfazed. He reached his half-century off 36 balls, then accelerated with a flurry of trademark ramps and extra-cover drives. His unbeaten 84 off 49 balls, featuring 7 boundaries and 10 towering sixes, single-handedly dragged India from a precarious position to a competitive total of 161/9. His ability to manipulate the field during the death overs proved to be the difference-maker, as India added 50 runs in the final six overs despite losing wickets at the other end.

India’s disciplined bowling attack stifles USA’s historic pursuit in T20 World Cup 2026

Defending 161, the Indian bowling unit, led by Mohammed Sirajhit their straps immediately. The USA’s chase never truly found its rhythm as Siraj removed Andries Gous and Saiteja Mukkamalla early, while Arshdeep Singh sent Monank Patel packing for a duck. Within the first 20 balls, the USA were reduced to 13/3, effectively ending hopes of a massive upset.

The Americans showed resilience in the middle overs, spearheaded by Milind Kumar (34) and Sanjay Krishnamurthy (37). Their 50-run partnership for the fourth wicket kept the scoreboard ticking and gave the Indian fans a brief scare. However, India’s spin twins, Axar Patel and Varun Chakrabortytightened the screws. Patel’s double-strike in the 16th over, removing both Krishnamurthi and Harmeet Singheffectively broke the back of the chase.

Despite a late cameo from Shubham Ranjane (37 off 22), the asking rate proved too high. USA finished their 20 overs at 132/8, handing India a hard-fought 29-run win. While the USA earned respect for their gritty performance, it was the genius of SKY that ensured the hosts stayed on track for World Cup glory.

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