In a highly anticipated T20 World Cup clash against the USA in Mumbai on Saturday, the Indian cricket team struggled to put up a decent total after losing wickets in quick succession. Despite a valiant effort from captain Suryakumar Yadav, who scored a blazing half-century, the rest of the team failed to make an impact.
India's innings got off to a rough start when opener Abhishek Sharma was dismissed for a duck by Ali Khan. Things only got worse from there as veteran pacer Shadley van Schalkwyk tore through the batting line-up, taking three crucial wickets in the sixth over. Soon, India found themselves at a dismal 77 for 6 in the 13th over.
However, it was Suryakumar Yadav who refused to give up hope. He initially played cautiously, but soon shifted gears and launched a counter-attack against the USA bowlers. The skipper's unbeaten knock of 84 off just 49 balls included 10 boundaries and four massive sixes.
Despite Suryakumar Yadav's heroic efforts, the rest of the Indian batsmen failed to stay at the crease for long. Rinku Singh and Hardik Pandya were dismissed quickly, while Axar Patel could only manage a brief partnership with the captain before getting out for 14.
In the end, India could only muster a below-par total of 161 for 9 in their allotted 20 overs. This was a major disappointment for the home team, who were hoping for a dominant performance in front of their home crowd. The USA, on the other hand, were elated with their performance and their decision to bowl first after winning the toss.
It was a surprise to see India's star pacer Jasprit Bumrah missing from the playing XI. The team management announced that Bumrah was unwell and had been replaced by Mohammed Siraj. This was a big blow for India, as Bumrah is known for his ability to take wickets at crucial moments.
As the match ended with USA securing a comfortable victory, the Indian fans were left disappointed and the team was left to reflect on their batting collapse. The USA, on the other hand, had every reason to celebrate as they pulled off a memorable win against one of the top teams in the tournament.
