India is set to begin its ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 campaign against the United States of America on February 7th at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. The match is scheduled to begin at 7:00 PM IST.
India's Predicted Playing XI The expected playing XI for India includes a blend of seasoned players and dynamic newcomers:
- Abhishek Sharma
- Ishan Kishan (wk)
- Suryakumar Yadav (c)
- Tilak Varma
- Rinku Singh
- Hardik Pandya
- Axar Patel (vc)
- Shivam Dube
- Jasprit Bumrah
- Arshdeep Singh
- Kuldeep Yadav/Varun Chakravarthy
Even with the absence of veterans like Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, the team boasts a strong batting lineup and a formidable bowling attack. Suryakumar Yadav is expected to lead the team.
USA's Predicted Playing XI The United States team, led by Monank Patel, is anticipated to field a competitive side:
- Monank Patel (c/wk)
- Steven Taylor
- Andries Gous (wk)
- Milind Kumar
- Shayan Jahangir
- Sanjay Krishnamurthi
- Shubham Ranjane
- Harmeet Singh
- Mohammad Mohsin
- Ali Khan
- Saurabh Netravalkar
The USA squad includes players familiar with Mumbai conditions, such as Saurabh Netravalkar, Harmeet Singh, and Shubham Ranjane, potentially giving them an edge.
Live Streaming Details For fans in India, the match will be broadcast on the Star Sports Network. Live streaming will be available on JioHotstar. The broadcast will be available in multiple languages, including English, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, and Kannada, with additional regional feeds in Bengali, Bhojpuri, and Haryanvi. Coverage in Marathi and Indian Sign Language will also be available for all India matches, semi-finals, and the final.
In the United States, all USA matches, including the one against India, will be available for free on Willow's official YouTube channel. Willow TV will provide live coverage, with commentary in both English and Hindi.
Pitch and Weather Conditions The Wankhede Stadium pitch is known to favor batsmen, offering little assistance to spinners. Pacers might find some success if they maintain disciplined lines and lengths. The average first innings score at this venue typically hovers around 175-190 runs. The weather forecast predicts a temperature of around 33 degrees Celsius during the day, dropping to 23 degrees Celsius as the match progresses. There is no probability of precipitation, ensuring a full 20-over game.
Key Players to Watch For India, Abhishek Sharma and Jasprit Bumrah are expected to be key performers. The USA will rely on Milind Kumar and Harmeet Singh to make significant contributions.
Recent Form India has been in excellent form, securing nine series wins since their 2024 T20 World Cup victory. The United States, while not considered a top contender, has shown potential, as evidenced by their close warm-up match against New Zealand.