USA vs India Live സ്കോര്‍, Match 3 of T20 World Cup, 2026

That's a wrap - We already had a couple of games where the associate nations gave big names a scare. But this is just the start, as we will be back with another triple dose on the second day. Sunday, 8th February sees Afghanistan go up against New Zealand in Chennai, which will be followed by England taking on Nepal in Mumbai, and the day will end in Colombo as Sri Lanka meet Ireland. The action will begin at 5.30 am GMT for an action-packed Sunday. But do make sure you join us in advance for all the pre-match buzz and build-up. Until then, goodbye, stay safe. Cheers!

A very entertaining day of cricket - Unarguably, it was a gripping opening day at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, one when the so-called underdogs refused to concede. The Netherlands pushed Pakistan all the way in the curtain raiser before falling short at the final hurdle. Scotland dragged West Indies into deep waters but were denied the win in the end. And to cap it off, the USA pushed India to their limits, only for the Men in Blue to somehow emerge successful.

The victorious captain of India - Suryakumar Yadav walks again for a quick chat. He says only he truly knows how much pressure the side was under at 77 for 6. Drawing on his experience, he points out that he has played a lot of cricket here, and while the conditions were a little different from what they usually are at the Wankhede, that experience helped him adapt. Mentions that when they woke up, there wasn’t much sunlight. He adds that the curator did their best, but they may not have had enough sunlight for the pitch to be properly rolled and watered. While he stresses that they are not looking for excuses, he admits that everything cannot be brushed under the carpet and that the batting unit needs to do better. SKY reflects that even in victory, there are lessons to be learned, pointing out that they could have batted smarter and built one or two more partnerships to get to 160 more comfortably. He also informs that Jasprit Bumrah missed out due to fever, Abhishek Sharma was also under the weather, and that Washington Sundar will be joining the squad in Delhi.

The captain of USA - Monank Patel feels his bowlers did a commendable job, particularly in the way they assessed the conditions and the pitch to give the side early momentum. He admits that a few dropped catches at crucial moments proved costly and ultimately swung the game in India’s favour. Patel believes 160 was a competitive total on that surface and says the team would gladly take such a score on similar pitches. He admits that the top three failed to deliver and that the intent was lacking up front, but adds that the match offered plenty of learning and positives. According to him, handling the pressure of a big crowd and facing India was a valuable experience, one that would hold the team in good stead. He is confident the USA would take those lessons forward and come back stronger in their remaining games.

... The Presentation Ceremony ...

A resilient partnership, but not enough in the end - Milind Kumar and Sanjay Krishnamurthi formed a fighting alliance through the middle overs and added 58 runs together, but they weren't offered many freebies and were forced to manufacture fours and sixes. But the two did extremely well to keep the USA afloat in the chase. However, once that partnership was broken, another such alliance never really materialised for the USA in the remainder of the chase. Shubham Ranjane played a fine unbeaten knock of 37, but it all came in a losing cause. Bowling-wise, barring Hardik Pandya, each and every bowler picked up at least one wicket, with Mohammed Siraj, the man called in the eleventh hour, finishing with a three-for.

A scratchy start in pursuit - After a stupendous bowling effort and restricting India to a middling score, the USA got off to a worse possible start. They lost the top three, including the skipper Monank Patel and were reduced to 13/3 with Arshdeep and Siraj putting them on a tight leash. There was not much dew around, and the ball was holding on the surface well with some lateral movement as well. Crawling their way, they were choked with just 31/3 in the Powerplay, versus India's 46/4 at the same stage. The USA were pushed for a massive reconstruction job.

USA punched above their weight - This was easily one of the most improved bowling performances put together by the USA. They have come a long way over the last two years since the previous T20 World Cup. Shadley van Schalkwyk led the attack superbly with a brilliant four-wicket haul, and the rest backed him up well, barring Saurabh Netravalkar, who endured a rare off day. Monank Patel, too, was spot on with his plans and execution throughout and was supported well by his fielders too. The USA will rue a missed chance when Suryakumar Yadav was dropped on 15. Shubham Ranjane put him down on his follow-through, and one can only wonder how different things might have been had that opportunity been taken.

Short of runs, not out of form - Said SKY in one of the post-match interviews when he was going through a lean patch. But this knock of his has a bit of similarity with the past. 12th June 2024. T20 World Cup stage. Same opponent, same pressure. India were chasing a modest 111 against the USA back then, but nothing came easy. At 39/3, the chase had started to wobble before Suryakumar Yadav soaked up the tension, stitched it together, and guided India home with a calm, resilient half-century.  Fast forward to this evening and the stakes were far heavier. India were 77/6, setting the target with the big hitters already gone. From one end, SKY watched the procession, but at the other, he stood firm. What followed was a knock of control and courage. An unbeaten 84 off 49, built on grit. Scoops, sweeps, ramps, wrists rolling. He hit the ground a few times, yet stayed upright mentally. Rinku Singh and Axar Patel offered brief support, but this was SKY’s night. Less about flair, more about responsibility, and one of the finest innings of his career.

PLAYER OF THE MATCH - Suryakumar Yadav gets the award for his match-winning knock of an unbeaten 84 off 49. Yadav says he always knew a day like this would come. He reflects on how, over the last year, he tried to hold the innings together whenever possible, but it did not come off for him. Shares that he stepped away from the game after the final series of the previous year against South Africa and spent a lot of time with his family to reset mentally for the new year. SKY believes it never felt like a 180 or 190 wicket, but more like a 140 kind of surface. Says he always felt there was a need for one batter to bat right through till the end. He adds that Gautam Gambhir also told him the same during the break after 14 overs, reassuring him that he could always make up the runs later and just needed to be there till the end.

Dared, but stood tall - The USA pushed India hard, but the defending champions still kicked off their title defence with a victory. Not the most convincing win for the Men in Blue, but the bowlers did just well enough to drag them through, coupled with a captain’s knock that rescued the night for India. Despite the loss, there are plenty of positives for the USA in the way they executed their plans with the ball and put their bodies behind the ball in the field.

OUT! PLUMB IN FRONT! Siraj executes the yorker to absolute perfection, on middle. Shubham Ranjane gets low for the sweep, but the ball is too full for the shot. It sneaks under his blade and hits him flush on the left boot. India go up in unison, and the finger is raised. Ranjane does not bother reviewing it. India win by 29 runs and get their campaign underway!

There was a sound, but it has been given as a wide. Low full toss, outside off, Ranjane gets closer to the line of the ball and has a heave across the line. The ball appears to have grazed the toe end of the blade before going behind to the keeper on the bounce. Siraj wants to review the wide call, but that is not possible at this event.

Siraj slips in the yorker, near the tramline. It goes beyond the tramline and Ranjane lets it be. Not given as a wide because Shubham shuffled across the stumps.

SIX! That has gone back many a mile! Siraj bashes the surface but this sits up to be hit, around the waist, on off. Ranjane stands tall and climbs into it as he parks the pull over deep mid-wicket. It is taken in the crowd by a fan sporting an Indian jersey.

Closer to the off stump, full in length. Ranjane gets low and has a swipe across the line but does not connect.

Full and outside off, Ranjane reaches out and ends up dragging it off the inner half to wide long on. He does not take the single.

FOUR! Nicely done! Slower, short ball, over middle. Ranjane cleverly walks inside the line of the ball and helps the hook fine of the short fine leg fielder for a four.

Mohammed Siraj (3-0-18-2) to close out the game.

Nails the yorker, at the base of the middle and leg stump. Shadley van Schalkwyk jams it out down the deck.

Another teaser! A well-directed short ball by Hardik at the bodyline. Ranjane tries to take it on but is rushed and the ball gets big on him. Spoons it behind square leg, where Mohammed Siraj sprints to his left but the ball drops in front. Single taken.

In the air...but safe! Slower one, on a good length, keeping it wide on off. Ranjane reaches out and swings hard at it. He loses his shape and slices it over extra cover. The sub fielder, Sanju Samson, goes after it, but the ball drops out of his reach. Two runs taken.

SIX! A gift and Shubham Ranjane accepts it gleefully! Pandya goes searching for the yorker but ends up serving a low full toss, on off and middle. Ranjane hangs deep in the crease, gets low to get under the ball and clobbers it over deep mid-wicket for a biggie.

A yorker, right at the toes. Shadley van Schalkwyk gets the front leg out of the way and jams it out beside the strip on the leg side before crossing over.

Almost chopped it on! Pandya serves the off-cutter, on a back of a length, across off. van Schalkwyk swings for the hills but gets an inside edge that sneaks past the stumps and rolls to short fine leg.

Who will bowl the 19th? It will be Hardik Pandya. 3-0-24-0 so far. USA need 51 from 12 balls.

This is full and straight, on middle. Shadley hits it down to long on for a single.

A sharp and quick bumper, over middle, Shadley van Schalkwyk ducks under it.

USA's star with the ball, Shadley van Schalkwyk, is in at number 9.

OUT! CAUGHT! Arshdeep Singh has his second wicket. Singh bangs it in short at the bodyline of the batter, tucking him up for room. Mohsin hangs back and swings across for the pull. Gets it only as far as deep mid-wicket, where Tilak Varma gobbles it up around his waist. The USA are now 7 down for 110.