The opening day of the T20 World Cup 2026 delivered a double dose of thrilling cricket as Pakistan edged past the Netherlands in a nail-biting encounter, while India survived an unexpected scare against the United States.
In the first match of the tournament, Pakistan secured a dramatic three-wicket victory over the Netherlands at the Sinhalese Sports Club in Colombo. After winning the toss and electing to bat first, the Netherlands were bowled out for 147 in 19.5 overs. Michael Levitt provided an aggressive start with 24 off 15 balls, while Bas de Leede (30) and captain Scott Edwards (37) offered stability in the middle overs. However, Pakistan's consistent bowling efforts prevented the Dutch from accelerating in the final overs. Roelof van der Merwe's impressive catch to dismiss Sahibzada Farhan was a highlight in the field for the Netherlands.
Pakistan's chase of 148 appeared to be cruising, but the innings imploded, creating a tense atmosphere. The 2009 champions found themselves reeling at 114 for 7. With 29 runs needed from the final two overs, Faheem Ashraf emerged as the hero, smashing a breathtaking 29 off just 11 balls, including three sixes, to guide Pakistan to victory with three balls to spare. Faheem Ashraf's crucial innings pulled Pakistan out of a potentially embarrassing situation, especially after their opening match defeat against the USA in 2024. Pakistan's ability to fight back and secure the win was a testament to their resilience under pressure.
The second match of the day saw India, the reigning T20 World Cup champions, face the United States at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. The co-hosts, India, had a nervy start to their campaign, ultimately defeating the United States by 29 runs. After the USA chose to field first, India's innings faltered, slipping to 71 for 6. However, skipper Suryakumar Yadav played a match-winning innings, scoring an unbeaten 84 off 49 balls, including 10 fours and four sixes, to propel India to 161 for 9 in their 20 overs. Shadley van Schalkwyk was the pick of the bowlers for the USA, taking 4 wickets for 25 runs.
In response, the United States struggled early, losing three wickets for just 13 runs. Mohammed Siraj and Arshdeep Singh made early breakthroughs into the USA's batting lineup. Milind Kumar (34) and Sanjay Krishnamurthi (37) put up a 58-run stand, but India took quick wickets to restrict the USA to 132 for 8 in their 20 overs. Siraj finished with 3 for 29, while Arshdeep Singh and Axar Patel took two wickets each. Suryakumar Yadav's brilliance and Siraj's bowling performance were instrumental in India's victory.
The opening day showcased the unpredictable nature of T20 cricket, with both Pakistan and India facing tough challenges from their respective opponents. The Netherlands and the United States, both fought hard and demonstrated their potential to cause upsets in the tournament.