India kick off their T20 World Cup 2026 campaign tonight with a high-energy clash against the United States at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium, and there’s already plenty to talk about — team form, injury setbacks, and a few selection calls that could raise eyebrows. Toss is scheduled for 6:30 PM IST, with the match starting at 7 PM.
Riding a strong run of results and playing at home, India start as clear favourites. But USA have quietly built a reputation for springing surprises, especially with the bat, making this opener more interesting than it looks on paper.
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India arrive with momentum
If confidence counts, India have plenty of it.
Suryakumar Yadav’s side recently wrapped up a dominant 4-1 T20I series win over New Zealand. They followed that up with a comfortable warm-up victory over South Africa. The batting unit looks settled, the bowling sharp, and the bench deep.
The bigger picture? India are chasing history. No team has ever won back-to-back T20 World Cups, and this squad knows the opportunity in front of them.
Team news: Injuries force changes
There are, however, a couple of concerns.
Fast bowler Harshit Rana has been ruled out with a knee injury, with Mohammed Siraj stepping in as replacement. Washington Sundar is also unavailable as he continues recovery.
One major talking point is the wicketkeeper spot. Ishan Kishan is expected to start ahead of Sanju Samson, who may miss out on the playing XI despite being part of the squad.
USA not just here to make numbers
It’s easy to underestimate USA, but that would be a mistake.
They smashed 200-plus totals in both their warm-up games against India A and New Zealand, showing serious depth in batting. Captain Monank Patel and a mix of experienced associates and domestic pros give them firepower.
If their top order clicks, they could make India work harder than expected.
Squads at a glance
India: Suryakumar Yadav (c), Ishan Kishan (wk), Sanju Samson (wk), Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Rinku Singh, Axar Patel (vc), Shivam Dube, Hardik Pandya, Washington Sundar, Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav, Harshit Rana, Varun Chakravarthy.
USA: Monank Patel (c), Andries Gous (wk), Saiteja Mukkamalla, Shayan Jahangir, Harmeet Singh, Shehan Jayasuriya, Sanjay Krishnamurthi, Milind Kumar, Mohammad Mohsin, Shubham Ranjane, Shadley van Schalkwyk, Ali Khan, Jasdeep Singh, Nosthush Kenjige, Saurabh Netravalkar.
Toss time and live streaming details
Toss will take place at 6:30 PM IST. First ball at 7 PM.
Fans can watch the match live on the Star Sports Network, while online streaming will be available on Jio+ Hotstar.
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What to expect at Wankhede
The Wankhede pitch usually favours batters under lights, with short boundaries and plenty of runs on offer. Dew could also play a role later in the evening, making chasing slightly easier.
Expect a high-scoring contest if conditions stay true.
Live commentary highlights (rolling)
- Toss at 6:30 PM
- India likely to open with Kishan
- Bumrah and Arshdeep expected to share the new ball
- USA banking on aggressive powerplay batting
Stay tuned for ball-by-ball updates as India aim for a confident start to their title defence.
