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 essential sights 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 recreation of the opening day pits the West Indies in opposition to Scotland, the workforce that changed Bangladesh following their controversial expulsion from the event.
The eyes of the cricketing world will likely be on India, although, with their outstanding run of type, and whether or not they’ll lay down an early marker or whether or not the US workforce can present what would absolutely be the competitors’s best upset.
Al Jazeera Sport takes a more in-depth have a look at the sport.
What have India mentioned earlier than the T20 World Cup opener?
India captain Suryakumar Yadav admitted “there will likely be nerves” when India open their T20 World Cup marketing campaign in entrance of greater than 30,000 fanatical dwelling supporters in Mumbai, however pledged to offer them “leisure”.
Suryakumar is just too conscious that India, the top-ranked T20 workforce on the earth, are overwhelming favourites to retain their title.
However he mentioned his workforce will attempt to feed off the optimistic vibes from a billion-plus dwelling supporters and never be crushed by the massive weight of expectation.
“If you’re taking part in at dwelling, there’s all the time an added strain. I’m not working away from the very fact,” Suryakumar advised reporters prematurely of India’s last coaching session on Friday.
“To be sincere, there will likely be nerves, there will likely be strain, however in the event you see the optimistic facet of it, there’ll be a number of cheer round.
“There’s so many individuals coming to look at within the stadiums, I’ve advised my boys the identical factor, 30,000-35,000 folks coming and so many watching at dwelling.
“Let’s give them a very good time. Let’s give them leisure.”
What’s India’s document 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 facet received their inaugural occasion in 2007, beating Pakistan within the last, however that made for an extended 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 document in T20 World Cup cricket?
The US cricket workforce 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 mentioned in regards to the US?
India know that their opening opponents are a rising power in cricket, and Suryakumar mentioned no workforce can be taken evenly.
“I don’t see any weak groups within the competitors. All 20 groups are very a lot able to taking part in some good cricket,” he mentioned.
“On this format, one or two batters could make a distinction. Or it takes one or two bowlers to have a very good 24 balls on any given day.
“So we must play the identical manner as we’ve been taking part in in opposition to all of the groups.”
India’s batters are smashing out the runs within the shortest format, with the facet not dropping under 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 last match of New Zealand’s tour of India, they hit 271-5, earlier than hitting the South Africans for 240-5 of their last warm-up recreation prematurely of the T20 World Cup.
Suryakumar’s facet have received seven of their final 9 accomplished T20 matches.
India workforce information
The captain mentioned there have been health doubts over quick bowler Harshit Rana, who was injured in a warm-up recreation on Wednesday.
Rana bowled only one over earlier than leaving the sphere clutching his knee.
“Harshit Rana has not been dominated out but; the physios are assessing him, however it doesn’t look good,” mentioned 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 workforce information
The US workforce will likely be shorn of one in all its largest names, with Aaron Jones suspended because of a number of corruption costs.
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
