That cricket is never just a matter of reputation or highlight-reel sixes. Major events demand a great temperament, a great frame of mind, and the nerve to remain cool when things start going awry.
That is exactly what the India vs United States of America match scorecard (3rd match) of the T20 World Cup 2026 at The historic Wankhede Stadium. India went on to win by 29 runs, but the transition from strife to success was a far from comfortable one.
The United States fought hard; their bowlers stuck to plans, and for long periods in the first innings, India were in genuine trouble. Then a captain’s innings turned the evening upside down.
Match Snapshot (At a Glance)
| Match Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Fixture | India vs United States of America |
| Match Number | 3rd Match, Group A |
| Tournament | ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 |
| Date | Saturday, 7 February 2026 |
| Venue | Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai |
| Toss | USA won and chose to bowl |
| Result | India won by 29 runs |
Pitch & Conditions—The Smart Batter’s Surface
In the beginning, there was bounce on offer, and stroke-making seemed natural. But after the shine wore off, the pitch grew slower. Spinners started grabbing the ball, cutters jammed in the surface, and timing was difficult.
Key understanding of the surface:
- New ball—stroking it well
- Halfway stage—taking the pace off worked.
- Spinners became difficult to attack
- Anything above 160 felt competitive
This seemed to be a day for calculation, not chaos.
India’s Innings—Collapse to Control
India ended with 161/9, a score which later became match-winning. But the numbers alone obscure the drama.
India Batting Scorecard
| Batter | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s | SR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ishan Kishan (wk) | 20 | 16 | 1 | 2 | 125.00 |
| Abhishek Sharma | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Tilak Varma | 25 | 16 | 3 | 1 | 156.25 |
| Suryakumar Yadav (c) | 84* | 49 | 10 | 4 | 171.43 |
| Shivam Dube | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Rinku Singh | 6 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 42.86 |
| Hardik Pandya | 5 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 83.33 |
| Axar Patel | 14 | 11 | 2 | 0 | 127.27 |
| Arshdeep Singh | 4 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 66.67 |
| Varun Chakaravarthy | 0 | 0 | – | – | – |
Golden Notes—What Really Happened
- India had slumped to 46/4 in less than six overs.
- Partnerships were never truly settled.
- Wickets continued to tumble at the other end.
- The sum is around 120 without the captain.
This inning was survival, not dominance.
Why Suryakumar’s Knock Mattered
| Aspect | Impact |
|---|---|
| Situation | Top order collapsing |
| Role | Captain, anchor, finisher |
| Runs | 84* |
| Difference | Lifted total from average to defendable |
What stood out most?
- He avoided panic.
- Looked for gaps rather than the home run.
- Managed strike beautifully with tailenders.
- Attacked only the right bowlers.
It was awareness on the highest level.
USA Bowling—Discipline with Belief
The American attack earned respect. They fiddled with lengths, trotted out variations, and simply didn’t give up the easy release.
USA Bowling Scorecard
| Bowler | Overs | Runs | Wickets | Economy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shadley van Schalkwyk | 4 | 25 | 4 | 6.20 |
| Mohammad Mohsin | 4 | 16 | 1 | 4.00 |
| Harmeet Singh | 4 | 26 | 2 | 6.50 |
| Ali Khan | 2 | 13 | 1 | 6.50 |
| Saurabh Netravalkar | 4 | 50 | 1 | 6.20 |
Night-watchman spell: Van Schalkwyk took the wickets of key batsmen and never let up on India.
The Chase – Promise Without Completion
Target: 162.
The dream was so real, but an early hurt bit hard.
USA Batting Scorecard
| Batter | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s | SR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Andries Gous | 6 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 66.67 |
| Saiteja Mukkamalla | 2 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 28.57 |
| Monank Patel (c) | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Milind Kumar | 34 | 34 | 3 | 1 | 100.00 |
| Sanjay Krishnamurthi | 37 | 31 | 2 | 1 | 119.35 |
| Shubham Ranjane | 37 | 22 | 3 | 2 | 168.18 |
| Mohammad Mohsin | 8 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 88.89 |
Golden Reality – USA Innings
- Three wickets gone early.
- The required rate kept climbing.
- The middle order struggled, and the crowd got edgy.
- Experience gap revealed at crux time.
They had the heart, but finishing in global events demands ruthless execution.
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India Bowling – Holding Nerve
India Bowling Scorecard
| Bowler | Overs | Runs | Wickets | Economy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mohammed Siraj | 4 | 29 | 3 | 7.20 |
| Arshdeep Singh | 4 | 18 | 2 | 4.50 |
| Axar Patel | 4 | 24 | 2 | 6.00 |
| Varun Chakaravarthy | 4 | 24 | 1 | 6.00 |
| Hardik Pandya | 4 | 34 | 0 | 8.50 |
Siraj’s early strikes put USA on the back foot, and Arshdeep’s death overs quietly closed in.
Match Turning Points
- The captain farming strikes with the tail.
- Siraj is removing the top order.
- Dot-ball pressure in overs 15–18.
- USA losing wickets just when momentum appeared.
Final Result
| Team | Score |
|---|---|
| India | 161/9 (20) |
| United States | 132/8 (20) |
| Outcome | India won by 29 runs |
Conclusion
This game, if any match could, reminded us why tournament cricket is different. Talent is handy, but clearheadedness under fire is what wins matches. When India were rocking, their captain brought composure. When USA hit back, Indian bowlers relied on discipline.
The scorer will have it as a 29-run win.
To those who watched, it was a matchup of nerves simply to watch
