India survive USA scare again, thanks to 'leader' SKY's heroic 84 not out in T20 World Cup opener

In his pre-match press conference, Suryakumar Yadav said he prefers to be called a 'leader' rather than captain. His reason was that the word gave him a purpose -- to lead by example. SKY, as ad agencies have branded him, probably manifested his heroic 84 not out that rescued India from the cusps of humiliation to post a fighting 29-run win against the United States of America to begin their T20 World Cup campaign at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Saturday.

The USA showed glimpses of their potential, chasing a fighting total of 161/9, before ending on 132/8. Mohammed Siraj, who was a late inclusion in the squad in place of the injured Harshit Rana, finished with 3/29, while Arshdeep Singh, who led the pace attack in the absence of Jasprit Bumrah, bagged 2/18.

Axar Patel claimed two wickets in a row, the first of which ended Sanjay Krishnamurthi's defiant knock of 37 off 31, which, as long as it lasted, gave the USA a flicker of hope. In the end, India's superior bowling unit, without Bumrah, who was 'unfortunately not well', proved the difference.

The USA had given India a scare in the 2024 T20 World Cup as well, when they had the Blues on the ropes at 1/1, 10/2 and 39/3 in response to a modest total of 110/8. SKY played a brilliant 50 not out to aid the chase in New York.

But tonight the threat from the USA's resilient unit mostly made up of immigrants from India, was mightier because India were playing at home and they were the reigning champions. In recent years, India have been dominant in the format, despite losing Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma from the title-winning campaign. But what do the underdogs have to lose, right?

The powerplay, in which India have scored in excess of 80 on multiple occasions, proved to be a disaster this time as the USA had come prepared. Ali Khan dealt a major blow in the second over to remove Abhishek Sharma for a first-ball duck, and by the end of the 6th over, India were 46/4.

Had Shubham Ranjane held the catch on the return from Suryakumar Yadav, quite early in the Indian skipper's innings, the story might have been much different. But he dropped, and SKY made the most of the reprieve. It was a single-handed effort to say the least because even as he batted sensibly, keeping the run rate in the T20 range, wickets kept tumbling at the other end.

Shadley van Schalkwyk claimed three wickets in the final over of the powerplay by removing Ishan Kishan, then Tilak Varma and Shivam Dube. Kishan had struggled to find his usual rhythm, but had flicked a six in the previous over. But van Schalkwyk got him with a teasing delivery that was asking to be driven. The left-hander had got lucky with a dropped catch at point in the previous over, but he could not clear the catcher, Milind Kumar, at mid off. Tilak Varma, who was doing alright, was beaten by bounce and gave an easy catch to Patel at midwicket. Just before the Wankhede crowd could get an idea of what was happening, Dube went back for duck, failing to read a slow delivery, caught by Netravalkar.

Just after their brilliant start, the USA got a little sloppy in the field, dropping catches and giving away boundaries. SKY was dropped in the 10th over, and a couple of deliveries before that, he hit one over mid off to get a boundary, ending a 27-ball drought, an unthinkable proposition for an Indian team at home, let alone on any ground in the world. But Mohammad Mohsin returned to strike, removing Rinku Singh (6), who thought he had enough power in the shot but not quite to beat Milind Kumar at long off. India were 73/5 in 12 overs. The USA weren't done yet. Mr Dependable, Hardik Pandya, walked in and skipped down the pitch to fetch a boundary, but Harmeet Singh's spin and the grippy surface provided the perfect recipe for a miscued shot. Pandya was back in the dugout for 5 off 6, caught by Mukkamalla at deep cover to put India in trouble at 77/6 in 12.4 overs.

SKY got a much-deserved half century in 36 balls with a four from a full toss; picked from outside off and planted behind square. He then treated van Schalkwyk to a boundary and a six in the penultimate over before hammering Netravalkar for 21 runs in the 20th over. Monank Patel had won the toss and opted to bowl, while India left out Sanju Samson.

Brief scores: India 161/9 in 20 overs (Suryakumar Yadav 84 not out, Tilak Varma 25, Ishan Kishan 20, van Schalkwyk 4/25, Harmeet Singh 2/26) bt USA 132/8 in 20 overs (Shubham Ranjane 37, Sanjay Krishnamurthi 37, Milind Kumar 34, Siraj 3/29, Arshdeep 2/18, Axar 2/24)