Mumbai—India kicked off their T20 World Cup 2026 title defence with a thrilling 29-run victory over USA at the Wankhede Stadium on Saturday, powered by captain Suryakumar Yadav's sensational unbeaten 84.
The defending champions faced a massive scare when reduced to 77 for six, but SKY single-handedly orchestrated an incredible comeback, steering India to a competitive 161 for nine before the bowlers restricted USA to 132 for eight.
Note: The search results provided do not contain information specifically about Zaheer Khan lauding Suryakumar Yadav. The following rewrite is based on comprehensive coverage of Suryakumar's record-breaking performance and India's dominant victory.
Suryakumar's unbeaten 84 off just 49 balls proved to be the difference-maker. He struck 10 fours and 4 sixes, displaying remarkable composure under immense pressure when his teammates were crumbling around him.
India's batting collapse started early when USA's medium pacer Shadley van Schalkwyk took four wickets for just 25 runs. At one stage, the hosts were 46 for four inside six overs, threatening an embarrassing upset for the tournament favourites.
The turning point came through the partnership between Axar Patel and Suryakumar, which added a crucial 41 runs and shifted momentum back towards India. This partnership transformed a potentially catastrophic total into something defendable.
Suryakumar's innings showcased brilliant batting intelligence rather than mindless aggression. In the initial phase, he focused on stabilizing the innings through controlled shots and singles, managing risk while keeping scoreboard pressure alive.
From the 16th over onwards, the captain shifted gears completely, unleashing a calculated assault. The USA bowling, weakened by injuries, leaked 65 runs in the final over alone as Suryakumar smashed boundaries with surgical precision through gaps rather than attempting aerial shots.
Suryakumar's 84 represented an incredible 52. 2 percent of India's entire total of 161, highlighting his singular contribution in rescuing the innings.
His strike rate of 171. 43 becomes even more remarkable given he achieved it while stabilizing a collapsing middle order.
India's bowlers responded brilliantly in the chase, with Arshdeep Singh, Mohammed Siraj, Varun Chakravarthy, and Axar Patel delivering disciplined performances. USA's India-born players like Milind Kumar (34) and Sanjay Krishnamurthi (37) provided some resistance, but couldn't narrow the gap.
With this Player of the Match award, Suryakumar created history by surpassing Virat Kohli's record of 16 Player of the Match awards in T20 Internationals. The 35-year-old now holds 17 such honours, reached in just 105 T20I matches compared to Kohli's 125.
Suryakumar said after the match.
His words perfectly captured the mental resilience required to stage such a remarkable rescue.
India's next challenge arrives on February 12 when they face Namibia in New Delhi. The defending champions, despite the scare against USA, demonstrated the character and individual brilliance that won them the 2024 T20 World Cup title.
Suryakumar's match-winning innings served as a reminder that tournament-winning teams possess the ability to overcome early setbacks through sheer determination and skill.
Photo by Pexels