🏏ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026: M3: IND vs USA at Mumbai on 07/02/26🏏 - Page 4

There is something intrinsically beautiful about sport. There may be match-ups. There may be rankings. There may be the idea of why and how one competitor is better and stronger than the other. And yet, anyone and everyone has a chance. Always. To cause a flutter. To rattle the more fancied cage. To create something that would be damning for the favourites, but would be magical for those perceived as underdogs. Not just on the day, but in years to come.

And so arrive the United States of America. Into the cauldron and coliseum of cricket that is the Wankhede Stadium. To face the rarely-seen-before T20I juggernaut that is India.

On paper, this is a mismatch. A contest that, if both teams play to potential and to their pedigree, should not last the 40 rounds. But this format, this sport, this pressure that the World Cup brings, means the USA will have a puncher's chance. A chance to shock the world, and to do it with the entire cricketing universe watching.

Tonight will mark just the second time India are playing a T20I against the USA, with their only other meeting coming at the previous edition. That means there may be some unfamiliarity to contend with for India, and the visitors might just be banking on that to make the difference, along with their new-found MLC experience.

India’s ace fast bowler was the only member of the squad who didn't train yesterday at the Wankhede because of an illness. He watched from the dressing room balcony, around the same time Harshit Rana was ruled out of the tournament and was replaced by Mohammed Siraj. Bumrah and Siraj are both on the field now with the rest of the side as the stands start to fill up quickly. Bumrah is tossing the white ball constantly in his hand, almost ready to bowl on the side pitch but he spends most of the time chatting with Sanju Samson and Gambhir. Siraj, too, does some drills but doesn't bowl really. Bumrah looks in good spirits despite the illness and Tilak Varma, returning from an injury, bowls some offbreaks and should be good to go after playing the two warm-ups recently."

Prasanna S: "My instincts tell me India vs USA will be a closely fought game. USA is a dark horse, India can't afford to be complacent here." -- Well, for what it is worth, USA did leave India in a bit of a tangle the last time they met, with Suryakumar Yadav bailing out the eventual champions. And USA, of course, got the better of Pakistan in a Super Over.

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USA has won the toss and will bowl first.

United States of America have won the toss and have opted to field

Toss time!

Right, It is toss time in Mumbai, and the Wankhede Stadium is already a cacophony of noise. Monank and Suryakumar are out there in the middle. Suryakumar has the coin and he gives it a spin. Heads is the call, and the coin goes for a roll. Heads it is. USA will field first.

Monank Patel | USA captain: We are going to bowl first. Looks a good surface. High-scoring ground, so we will look to hunt it down. World Cup is one of the biggest stages for us. Lot of expectations from the US so we will look to do well. We played a couple of warmup games at the DY patil and we had a good run there. We have 6 batters, 2 all rounders and 3 bowlers.

Monank says the surface looks good and knowing the target will be helpful. Adds that the World Cup is one of the biggest stages and that they want to do their best. A dream come true for a lot of players, having started their careers in India, he says. Everyone is confident and looking forward to it.

Suryakumar says they were looking to bat first anyway and does not think there will be a lot of dew later. There will, of course, be pressure, he says but he wants his team to play the same way. The pitch looks good, he mentions. Washington, Samson, Bumrah are missing out. Bumrah is unwell, meaning that Siraj plays.

Suryakumar Yadav | India captain: We were looking to bat first. Wicket looks good, there is wind around so we don't expect dew. It's alive even before the game starts and I am sure it is going to be even better.