T20 World Cup 2026: India vs USA, Match 3 - Who Said What?

India got their ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 campaign off to a solid start with a 29-run victory over the USA in their Group A fixture at the Wankhede Stadium. 

India posted 161/9 in their 20 overs, with a splendid knock by their captain ensuring a competitive total. Suryakumar Yadav led the way with a fluent 84 offjust 49, anchoring the innings and keeping the scoreboard ticking through the middle overs. Despite losing wickets at regular intervals early on, India managed to post more than 160, setting a challenging target for the Monank Patel-led team.

The USA responded with intent, but the depth and experience of the Indian bowling unit proved too strong for them in the end. Axar Patel was the standout bowler, producing a decisive spell in the middle overs. He struck in back-to-back deliveries, dismissing Sanjay Krishnamurthi and then Harmeet Singh, swinging the momentum firmly towards India. 

Alongside Axar, other Indian bowlers kept the pressure on with tight lines and disciplined lengths, not allowing the USA batters to build long partnerships as Mohammed Siraj took three wickets while Arsdheep Singh scalped two. The visiting side was eventually restricted to 132/8 in their 20 overs, falling short by 29 runs. 

Who Said What?

Suryakumar Yadav, Player of the match 

See, I knew definitely someday it was going to come. Last whole year, I was trying to bat in such a way, hold the innings for the team, but it wasn't happening. But then I left it alone after I played the last series of last year against South Africa. I always felt that there was a need for a batter to bat till the end. I never felt that it was a 180-190 wicket. I felt it was a 140 wicket. But then Gauti bhai told me the same thing during the break after the 14 overs. He told me, just try and bat till the end, you can cover it any time. And also, most important thing, I have played a lot of my cricket in Bombay, this wicket and also maidans of Mumbai cricket. So I know how to bat on similar kind of wickets. (on adapting to the pitch) Absolutely. I mean, 77 for 6 and then from there, batting till the end. You had to understand that one batter had to bat till the end.

Monank Patel, USA captain (Losing captain)

I thought our bowlers did a great job. The way they assessed the condition, the pitch, it wasn't easy to hit initially in the powerplay and I thought the variations that they showed initially in the powerplay, it gave us a good momentum and a good start by getting wickets. We kept them quiet for a long period of time. Here and there, we dropped a few catches that cost us the game. But a lot of learning from this game and a lot of positives. And definitely this game is going to help us in running forward. (biggest positive for you from today) I thought the way we handled the pressure playing in front of the big crowd and playing against India, first game of World Cup, I thought we managed really well. Yeah, our batting department didn't click, but there were a lot of positives, Milind, Shubham, Sanjay, the way they played, I thought it's going to help us in the next 3 games. Overall, I know we made a few mistakes, but we'll definitely come back stronger.

Suryakumar Yadav, India captain (Winning captain)

Only I can tell actually at the position which we were in, 77 for 6, how much pressure I was feeling. But then at the same time, I had that belief that I have batted in similar situations. And also when I have played my lot of cricket here in Maidans of Mumbai cricket, Azad Maidan, Cross Maidan.  I think curator and the groundsmen, they tried their best to prepare the best pitch. But I think a few things are not in their control. So there wasn't enough sunlight to have that pitch rolled, watered. Maybe because of that, but we can't be brushing everything under the carpet. We could have batted a little better. We sit around aaram se [sit relaxed], we have a lot of time, five days for the next game and we'll come back stronger. (injury update on Bumrah and Washi) Washi is joining us in Delhi. He's good. Everything is fine. Bumrah, he was having high fever due to because of weather, like how Abhishek was under the weather. But rest, everything is good.