T20 World Cup: Suryakumar Yadav shines as India survive US scare to win opener

MUMBAI: Perhaps this is exactly why the decision-makers in Indian cricket kept patience and never lost belief in the ability of India’s T20 captain Suryakumar Yadav, even as he went through a terrible slump that saw him end up without even a half-century in 2025.Leading from the front and by example on a Saturday night on which India’s ‘six-hitting machine’ malfunctioned badly against a spirited USA in their opening match of the 2026 T20 World Cup at the Wankhede Stadium, ‘SKY’ rescued his team when it was tottering at 77 for six in the 13th over, with a scintillating knock-a dazzling 84 not out off just 49 balls. Playing the role of a one-man army, the Indian captain took his team to 161 for nine, a total which seemed far from possible at one stage when India were in a freefall, thanks to a brilliant spell by South Africa-born medium-pacer Shadley van Schalkwyk, who took four of 25 in four overs.

After taking his time to get his eye in on a two-paced pitch where strokemaking seemed tricky, the Mumbaikar, refusing to be rattled by India’s rapid fall of wickets, charmed a packed home crowd with some typically breathtaking ‘360 degree’ strokeplay to reach his half-century off 36 balls. Like South African legend AB de Villiers, the 35-year-old uses all the angles of the ground to pull off some audacious strokes-many of them behind the wicket.

USA had an opportunity to get rid of Suryakumar when he was on just 15, but Shubham Ranjane grassed a chance off his own bowling that Surya offered in the 10th over- a missed opportunity that may well cost them the match. Two years back, Surya had stroked a 49-ball 50 to help India overcome USA’s low total on a difficult pitch, and on this occasion, he again proved to be a thorn in USA’s flesh.Pouncing on Saurabh Netravalkar in the final over of the innings, which went for 21 runs, Surya smashed the ex-Mumbai left-arm pacer for back-to-back sixes and a four-two out of those shots were scoops/laps which came even as he lost his balance and fell while pulling them off.

Left nervous by the assault, Netravalkar delivered a full toss which was promptly dispatched to the stands behind long off. In the 2024 T20 World Cup, Netravalkar had taken two for 18 in four overs to deliver a fine spell against India at New York.

At Mumbai, bullied by SKY, he ended up conceding 65 -the highest by any bowler in an innings in a T20 World Cup match, beating Sanath Jayasuriya's 64 way back in 2007.Hampered severely by the injuries to pacer Ali Khan (1-13) and allrounder Ranjane (0-16 in two overs), USA were forced to ask the off-colour Netravalkar to complete his quota of overs, and with Surya, batting in a belligerent mood, feasted on the software engineer with aplomb. India were staring at the barrel when Hardik Pandya (5), playing a poor shot, holed out to sweeper cover off a turning delivery from former Mumbai left-arm spinner Harmeet Singh, who, capitalising on the grip on the surface, bowled superbly on his ‘home ground,’ taking two for 26 in four overs. However, refusing to give up, Surya added 41 in just 24 balls for the seventh wicket with Axar Patel (14, 11b, 2x4) to help India rally from the crisis.

After Axar was gone, he only had tail for company, but taking charge of the situation with just the tailenders left, Surya then put on 22 in 14 balls for the eight wicket Arshdeep Singh and 21 in six balls with Varun Chakravarthy for the ninth.

In a collapse which must worry them, India looked down in the dumps, getting off to the worst-possible start when Abhishek Sharma was out for a ‘golden duck’ on his T20 World Cup debut, hitting Ali Khan to Sanjay Krishmamurthi at deep extra cover in the second over.

Putting on 37 in 24 balls for the second wicket, Ishan Kishan (20, 16b, 1x4, 2x4) and Tilak Varma (25, 16b, 3x4, 1x6) seemed to be going well, before van Schalkwyk struck thrice in the sixth over, sending off the duo and Shivam Dube for a golden duck-all the three batters perishing to poor shots off gentle medium-pace.

India’s woes increased and many thought an upset was on the cards when Rinku Singh (6) mistimed a shot off leggie Mohammed Mohsin, who bowled impressively to finish with 1-16 in four overs, and Pandya was gone too. However, on a night during which he seemed unstoppable, ‘Captain Surya’ was enough to take India’s ship to safe waters, even as the deck was half-burnt. Earlier, India suffered a blow even before USA asked them to bat first, when their premier pacer Jasprit Bumrah was forced to sit out of the opener unavailable due to illness.