Raste mein thode speedbumps toh aaye, but India ka Mission T20WC 2026 has started with a W at Wankhede. 🥳

Put in to bat, the Men in Blue were rocked early by Team USA’s swing and seam. Then Captain SKY’s Main Hoon Na mindset took over with a red‑hot 49-ball 84. Pehle pressure absorb, phir apne andaz mein total control to lift India from a precarious 77/6 to a competitive 161/9. 💪

When it came to defending the score, our pace generals - Mohammed Siraj and Arshdeep Singh - broke through the visitors’ defenses in the powerplay. The USA, on their part, were bundled out for 78.

We revisit how our first challenge of the T20 World Cup 2026 ensued.

A troubling start

With the No.1-ranked T20I batter Abhishek Sharma and Ishan Kishan fronting the batting order, the Mumbai faithful and the global Indian fans were awaiting a fiery start to the innings. However, Shadley van Schalkwyk (three wickets) and Ali Khan (one scalp) gave the USA team an early impetus in the game.

Supla-rstar comeback

Once Captain Surya entered the field, the calm began to settle in. The atmosphere in the fortress regained its confidence, as ‘Mr. 360’ flipped the switch. After reaching his half-century in 36 balls, SKY pulled the trigger in the final two overs.

He plundered 34 runs off his final 13 balls, 21 of which came in the 20th over, bowled by Saurabh Netravalkar.

Over 19.1: 4

Over 19.2: 6

Over 19.3: 6

Over 19.4: 4

Over 19.5: 1

Over 19.6: W (Run out)

By the end of his Khadoos innings 😎, Suryakumar Yadav wrote his name in the record books,

84: Second-Highest Score on T20WC captaincy debut

17: Most Player of the Match awards in T20Is for India

1: First Indian Captain with a debut T20 World Cup half-century

India set the USA a target of 162, thanks to Aapla Dada Surya bringing out that maidan thod-fod grit on a night when it mattered.

Surya Dada and his class >>>pic.twitter.com/XKnwUz3Qgx

— Mumbai Indians (@mipaltan) February 7, 2026

Siraj, Arshdeep hardlaunch fightback 💥🏏

While the dew started settling in on the pitch, the josh in the Indian bowling attack began charging up. Twin strikes from Mohammed Siraj and one from Arshdeep Singh dismantled the USA’s road to the 162-run chase.

Fightback in the middle? No problem for spin maestros

Carrying the element of mystery in their spin bowling prowess, Axar Patel (2/24) and Varun Chakravarthy (1/24) threw the spikes to puncture USA’s counter-attack. The duo broke down the 58-run and 27-run partnership for the fourth and fifth wicket, thus helping the hosts regain the momentum back in their favor.

Final scene and India gets the W

The USA needed 58 runs in the final three overs, but knowing every trick in the box, hosts India held their nerves to defend 161 at Aamchi fortress, the Wankhede Stadium 💙. Now, we rest and recover for the upcoming test against Namibia on Thursday, February 12.

Brief scores: India 161/9 (Suryakumar Yadav 84*; Shadley van Schalkwyk 4/25) BEAT USA 132/8 (Shubham Ranjane 37; Mohammed Siraj 3/29) by 29 RUNS.