Men in Blue defend modest total with disciplined bowling
It was a night of nervous moments and brilliant recovery at the Wankhede Stadium as the India vs USA T20 World Cup clash ended with the hosts securing a hard-fought 29-run victory. On a pitch that offered surprising assistance to the bowlers, India overcame a stunning top-order collapse to post a competitive total before restricting the United States to 132/8.
The evening began with a shock for the home crowd. The American bowling attack, led by an inspired Shadley van Schalkwyk, dismantled India's top order early on. Big names like Abhishek Sharma, Shivam Dube, and Ishan Kishan fell cheaply, leaving the Men in Blue reeling at a precarious 46/4 inside the powerplay. Van Schalkwyk was the wrecker-in-chief, claiming a remarkable 4 wickets for just 25 runs.
However, India’s "Mr. 360," Suryakumar Yadav, once again proved why he is vital to this format. As wickets tumbled around him, the captain played a captain's knock, smashing an unbeaten 84 off just 49 balls. His innings, peppered with 10 boundaries and 4 sixes, dragged India from disaster to a respectable 161/9.
Chasing 162, the USA batsmen struggled to cope with the pace and swing of the Indian attack under lights. Mohammed Siraj was lethal with the new ball, tearing through the American lineup to finish with figures of 3/29. Arshdeep Singh and Axar Patel provided excellent support, claiming two wickets each and never allowing the visitors to build momentum.
Despite valiant efforts from Sanjay Krishnamurthi (37) and Shubham Ranjane (37), the target proved too distant. The Indian spinners, particularly Axar and Varun Chakravarthy, choked the run flow in the middle overs, ensuring the India vs USA T20 World Cup encounter went the way of the favourites.
This win solidifies India's position in Group A, though the management will be keen to address the top-order fragility before the next major game.
Image Source: ESPN / ICC
