By Sachit Subba • Cricket • Feb 07, 2026 18:47 PM • 26 views
The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 kicked off with high-octane drama across the subcontinent on Saturday. While India’s captain led from the front at the Wankhede, history was made at Eden Gardens with a sensational hat-trick, and Pakistan narrowly escaped an upset in Colombo.
Wankhede Witness: Surya’s Masterclass Rescues India
In front of a roaring Mumbai crowd, Suryakumar Yadav proved why he is the gold standard in T20 batting. His unbeaten 84 off 49 balls (10 fours, 4 sixes) propelled India to a 29-run victory over a spirited USA side.
The hosts were in dire straits at 46/4 after Shadley van Schalkwyk (4/25) tore through the top order, dismissing Tilak Varma, Ishan Kishan, and Shivam Dube in a single devastating over. However, Yadav’s composure and a crucial 41-run stand with Axar Patel guided India to 161/9.
In response, the USA looked threatening during a 58-run partnership between Sanjay Krishnamurthi (37) and Milind Kumar (34), which steadied their chase. However, after Krishnamurthi’s dismissal, India’s bowling depth proved decisive. Mohammed Siraj led the attack with 3/29, while Arshdeep Singh and Axar Patel took two wickets each, restricting the Americans to 132/8.
The Shepherd of Eden: Hat-trick Heroics
Over in Kolkata, Romario Shepherd etched his name into World Cup folklore. In a Group C encounter, the West Indies defended a target of 149 with clinical precision against Scotland.
Scotland appeared to be cruising at 115/4 thanks to a 78-run partnership between captain Richie Berrington (42) and Tom Bruce (35). The turning point came when West Indian pacer Shepherd delivered a game-changing over. In that single spell, he dismantled the Scottish lower order, claiming a hat-trick by dismissing Matthew Cross, Michael Leask, and Oliver Davidson. Shepherd finished with figures of 5/20, sparking a Scottish collapse to 113 all out.
Earlier, Shimron Hetmyer had powered the Windies' total with a blistering 64 off 36 balls, decorated with six towering maximums.
Pakistan Survives Dutch Scare
In Colombo, Pakistan survived a major fright to secure a 3-wicket win over the Netherlands. Chasing 148, Pakistan's innings nearly derailed. A mid-innings collapse was triggered by the veteran Roelof van der Merwe.
Pakistan began from a comfortable position, but soon stumbled as the required rate climbed and wickets tumbled rapidly. The turning point came with the quick succession of Babar Azam and Mohammad Nawaz's dismissals. Under mounting pressure, Faheem Ashraf contributed a late cameo—smashing two vital sixes in his 11-ball 29*—to see his team cross the line with just three balls to spare.
What’s Next?
All eyes turn to the highly anticipated debut of Nepal as they take on the powerhouse England. Would you like a tactical preview and predicted XI for the Nepal vs. England clash?
