The India Playing XI vs USA Playing XI is a predicted clash between the players from both teams and an opportunity for India to seal their final playing ahead of the highly anticipated clash against arch-rivals Pakistan on the 15th of February.
India will be eyeing the World Cup title for a second consecutive time. However, in the history of the T20 World Cup, neither has any team won the title in consecutive years nor has any team won it on their home soil. But India have all these opportunities alongside the chance to seal it for the third time in its history.
This article provides the probable playing XIs of India and the United States of America for the First T20I World Cup clash in India, alongside the likely player combinations and crucial players to watch out for at the iconic Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.
India Playing XI vs USA Playing XI, Match No.3 – ICC T20 World Cup 2026
India Playing XI vs USA – ICC T20 World Cup
Openers: Abhishek Sharma and Ishan Kishan
Indian opener Abhishek Sharma forms one of the most destructive opening pairs with the pocket dynamite Ishan Kishan. Sanju Samson has currently been marked as India’s opene,r but talks have surfaced on him being replaced by the in-form Kishan.
The swashbuckling openers have their own aura when they rock the Indian batting innings with their intentful strokeplay. The T20 World Cup might mark the start of a new era in Indian cricket with the two left-handers taking guard.
Middle-Order Batters: Tilak Varma, Suryakumar Yadav, Shivam Dube, Rinku Singh, Hardik Pandya
While Tilak Varma’s return is awaited, yet it can be finalised that he will be an invincible part of the Indian lineup. Captain Suryakumar Yadav has also shown some spark of the return of the prime form of the dynamic batter in himself.
Rinku Singh remains the essential and dependable finisher in the format, and given his form, he will be part of the XI. He would be followed by Gambhir’s showmen, the all-rounders.
Hardik Pandya and Shivam Dube remain the two arms that carry the weight of this team. They are big hitters of the white ball, fast on the field and can deliver with the ball at times when the team needs it the most.
Bowlers: Axar Patel, Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh and Varun Chakravarthy
Axar Patel, the all-rounder and the vice-captain of the side, is likely to return in the T20 World Cup to pair alongside Varun Chakravarthy in the spin department.
Pacers from the successful season of the World Cup 2024, Jasprit Bumrah and Arshdeep Singh are likely to continue with the Indian team and take command of their new ball proceedings.
India Playing XI: Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan, Tilak Varma, Suryakumar Yadav, Shivam Dube, Rinku Singh, Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh and Varun Chakravarthy.
USA Playing XI vs India – ICC T20 World Cup
Openers: Steven Taylor and Shayan Jahangir
Experienced batter Steven Taylor has missed out on some matches in the recent past, but he is a crucial player at the top for the United States and will pair alongside Shayan Jahangir.
Middle-Order Batters: Monank Patel (c/wk), Andries Gous, Milind Kumar, Sanjay Krishnamurthi
The captain will be the anchor of their innings in the middle order, and the USA would look up to him in the absence of Aaron Jones for most of their runs. Andries Gous brings in some firepower to the batting side.
Milind Kumar and Sanjay Krishnamurti might have a visit to their ancestral land, but they are also crucial to the USA’s batting if they lose some wickets early on.
Bowlers: Harmeet Singh, Jessy Singh, Nisthush Kenjige, Saurabh Netravalkar, and Ali Khan
The USA do not have many all-rounders, and Harmeet Singh, who can bat, will be marking the end to their batting depth. Instead, Jassy Singh, orthodox spinner Kenjige and the two pacers Netravalkar and Ali will be the core bowling attack for Monank Patel’s side.
USA Playing XI: Steven Taylor, Shayan Jahangir, Monank Patel (c/wk), Andries Gous, Milind Kumar, Sanjay Krishnamurthi, Harmeet Singh, Jessy Singh, Nisthush Kenjige, Saurabh Netravalkar, and Ali Khan.
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