First games of a World Cup are often tricky. They are nerves, they are expectation, and sometimes, they are banana skins waiting to be slipped on. On Saturday night at the Wankhede, India almost found one.
Against a United States team that was expected to be a warm-up act, the defending champions were pushed to the brink. It took a masterclass from captain Suryakumar Yadav and a disciplined bowling effort to ensure the campaign started with points on the board rather than post-mortems.
When 200 Looked Like a Dream
The Wankhede crowd arrived expecting a run-fest. What they got was a reality check. The surface, usually a batter’s paradise, had bite. It swung, it stopped, and it skidded. India’s top order, seemingly in "hit-out-or-get-out" mode, failed to read the script.
USA’s seamers were relentless, exploiting the conditions perfectly. Wickets fell in clusters, and silence descended on the stadium as the scoreboard read a terrifying 77 for 6. The "minnows" were not just competing; they were dominating.
Playing for the badge. (Photo provided)
The Captain’s Knock: Defined by Patience, Finished with Flair
Great players absorb pressure; legends redirect it. Suryakumar Yadav did both. Walking into a crisis, SKY shelved his signature 360-degree flamboyance for gritty accumulation. He respected the good balls, rotated the strike, and simply stayed there.
Then came the shift. Once set, the scoop shots over fine leg returned. The wrists came into play. His unbeaten 84 wasn't just runs; it was a lesson in pace management. He dragged India to 161/9—a total that felt like 200 given the conditions.
Siraj & Arshdeep Shut the Door
Defending 161 required accuracy, not just aggression. Arshdeep Singh and Mohammed Siraj provided both. Siraj, a last-minute replacement for the injured Harshit Rana, bowled with the hunger of a man who knows he has to prove a point.
Despite defiant knocks from Milind Kumar and Sanjay Krishnamurthi, the USA chase never truly threatened the target. The required rate climbed, and the Indian bowlers tightened the noose, eventually sealing a 29-run victory.
What This Means for Group A
India takes the 2 points, but they also take a list of homework. With Pakistan and Netherlands looming, the top order cannot afford another "bad day at the office." The Wankhede scared them; better teams might punish them.