Who: India vs United States
What: 2026 ICC T20 World Cup
The place: Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, India
When: Saturday, February 7, at 7pm (13:30 GMT)
The 2026 version of the ICC T20 World Cup begins in India and Sri Lanka on Saturday, with holders and favourites India among the many important points of interest on the opening day.
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Pakistan play Nepal within the first match of the day in Colombo, earlier than consideration turns to Mumbai because the co-hosts face the USA in a repeat of the group stage match on the 2024 version.
The ultimate sport of the opening day pits the West Indies in opposition to Scotland, the crew that changed Bangladesh following their controversial expulsion from the event.
The eyes of the cricketing world will probably be on India, although, with their exceptional run of kind, and whether or not they are going to lay down an early marker or whether or not the US crew can present what would certainly be the competitors’s biggest upset.
Al Jazeera Sport takes a more in-depth take a look at the sport.
What have India stated earlier than the T20 World Cup opener?
India captain Suryakumar Yadav admitted “there will probably be nerves” when India open their T20 World Cup marketing campaign in entrance of greater than 30,000 fanatical house supporters in Mumbai, however pledged to present them “leisure”.
Suryakumar is just too conscious that India, the top-ranked T20 crew on the planet, are overwhelming favourites to retain their title.
However he stated his crew will attempt to feed off the constructive vibes from a billion-plus house supporters and never be crushed by the massive weight of expectation.
“Whenever you’re enjoying at house, there may be all the time an added stress. I’m not operating away from the very fact,” Suryakumar advised reporters upfront of India’s closing coaching session on Friday.
“To be sincere, there will probably be nerves, there will probably be stress, however when you see the constructive aspect of it, there’ll be a variety of cheer round.
“There’s so many individuals coming to observe within the stadiums, I’ve advised my boys the identical factor, 30,000-35,000 folks coming and so many watching at house.
“Let’s give them a great time. Let’s give them leisure.”
What’s India’s report in T20 World Cup cricket?
Not solely are India the defending champions, following their victory in opposition to South Africa on the 2024 version, however they’re additionally the joint-record winners of the T20 World Cup.
The Indian aspect received their inaugural occasion in 2007, beating Pakistan within the closing, however that made for a protracted look forward to the second win on the final version.
England and the West Indies have each additionally recorded two event wins.
What’s the US report in T20 World Cup cricket?
The US cricket crew made their debut at an ICC World Cup once they co-hosted the 2024 version with the West Indies.
It led to the best cricketing upset of all time, once they beat Pakistan within the group stage with a surprising tremendous over victory.
What have India stated concerning the US?
India know that their opening opponents are a rising power in cricket, and Suryakumar stated no crew can be taken frivolously.
“I don’t see any weak groups within the competitors. All 20 groups are very a lot able to enjoying some good cricket,” he stated.
“On this format, one or two batters could make a distinction. Or it takes one or two bowlers to have a great 24 balls on any given day.
“So we should play the identical manner as we’ve been enjoying in opposition to all of the groups.”
India’s batters are smashing out the runs within the shortest format, with the aspect not dropping beneath 215 in every of their final three matches (two in opposition to New Zealand and one in opposition to South Africa).
Within the fifth and closing match of New Zealand’s tour of India, they hit 271-5, earlier than hitting the South Africans for 240-5 of their closing warm-up sport upfront of the T20 World Cup.
Suryakumar’s aspect have received seven of their final 9 accomplished T20 matches.
India crew information
The captain stated there have been health doubts over quick bowler Harshit Rana, who was injured in a warm-up sport on Wednesday.
Rana bowled only one over earlier than leaving the sector clutching his knee.
“Harshit Rana has not been dominated out but; the physios are assessing him, nevertheless it doesn’t look good,” stated Suryakumar, fearing that the paceman’s World Cup could possibly be over earlier than it begins.
“If we miss him, we will certainly miss him.”
US crew information
The US crew will probably be shorn of one in all its greatest names, with Aaron Jones suspended resulting from a number of corruption fees.
The 31-year-old, who was born in Barbados, will miss all the event following the information of 5 alleged breaches.
India squad
Suryakumar Yadav (captain), Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson (wicketkeeper), Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Rinku Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakaravarthy, Washington Sundar, Ishan Kishan (wicketkeeper)
US squad
Monank Patel (captain), Jessy Singh, Andries Gous (wicketkeeper), Shehan Jayasuriya, Milind Kumar, Shayan Jahangir, Saiteja Mukkamala, Sanjay Krishnamurthi, Harmeet Singh, Nosthush Kenjige, Shadley van Schalkwyk, Saurabh Netravalkar, Ali Khan, Mohammad Mohsin, Shubham Ranjane
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