Mumbai, February 7, 2026: In a stunning turn of events, the United States of America (USA) has pushed the defending champions, India, onto the backfoot in their opening clash of the T20 World Cup 2026. Playing at the iconic Wankhede Stadium, the American bowling attack delivered a masterclass in swing and precision, leaving the star-studded Indian batting lineup reeling within the Powerplay.
The Powerplay Disaster: Van Schalkwyk’s Triple Strike
After winning the toss and electing to bowl, USA capitalized on the early moisture. Ali Khan set the tone by dismissing opener Abhishek Sharma (0) for a golden duck on just the second ball of the match.
The real damage, however, came in the 6th over. Shedley van Schalkwyk produced a spell for the history books, taking three wickets in a single over to silence the Mumbai crowd. He first removed the aggressive Ishan Kishan (20), followed it up with the set Tilak Varma (25), and capped it off by dismissing Shivam Dube for a duck. India plummeted from a steady start to a disastrous 46/4 within six overs.
Bumrah’s Absence Felt
The Indian camp faced a major setback even before the first ball was bowled. Lead pacer Jasprit Bumrah was ruled out of the playing XI due to a viral fever. In his absence, Mohammed Siraj leads the pace attack, but the pressure on the batters to post a high total without their bowling spearhead has clearly taken a toll.
The Recovery: Suryakumar and Rinku to the Rescue?
As the match crosses the halfway mark, the responsibility of a recovery falls on the shoulders of captain Suryakumar Yadav and the designated finisher Rinku Singh. The duo is currently playing cautiously to navigate the spin of Mohammad Mohsin and Harmeet Singh, aiming to guide India to a competitive total.
Live Match Status (At 10 Overs)
| Batsman | Score | Bowler | Figures |
| Ishan Kishan | 20 (16) | S. van Schalkwyk | 3/13 (3 Overs) |
| Tilak Varma | 25 (16) | Ali Khan | 1/13 (2 Overs) |
| Suryakumar Yadav | 7* (10) | Mohammad Mohsin | 0/4 (2 Overs) |
| Rinku Singh | 3* (5) |
Current Score: 63/4 (10 Overs)
Toss: USA won and elected to field first.
The stadium is buzzing with nervous energy as the home fans hope for a “SKY” special to save the day.