The wait is over. India, fresh from lifting the trophy in the previous edition, will begin their title defence in familiar home conditions against a spirited but inexperienced United States side in the tournament opener at the Wankhede Stadium.
The Wankhede pitch has long been known as a batting paradise, offering true bounce, short boundaries, and average first-innings scores frequently crossing 180. High-scoring thrillers are almost guaranteed, though chasing teams have also enjoyed success here, putting extra emphasis on the toss.
Rohit Sharma is expected to open alongside either Yashasvi Jaiswal or Shubman Gill, with Virat Kohli anchoring the middle order. Suryakumar Yadav’s explosive strokeplay and Rishabh Pant’s dynamic presence behind the stumps should give India formidable batting depth. All-rounder Hardik Pandya is likely to feature, fitness permitting, while Jasprit Bumrah will lead the pace attack, supported by Mohammed Siraj and Arshdeep Singh. Ravindra Jadeja and Kuldeep Yadav are set to control the middle overs with spin.
Also read: India beat England to win record sixth U-19 World Cup title
However, India have suffered an early blow. Young fast bowler Harshit Rana has been ruled out after injuring his knee during a warm-up game against South Africa, bowling just one over before leaving the field. Mohammed Siraj has been drafted in as replacement.
Captain Suryakumar Yadav addressed the setback at the pre-match press conference: “Harshit Rana has not been ruled out yet, the physios are assessing him but he does not look good,” he said. “Don’t worry, we have 11 players for tomorrow. But it obviously would be a big blow because you make a squad of 15 after a lot of thought and he was included after some thought process.”
For the United States, this is historic, their maiden appearance in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. The team blends domestic talent with international recruits and faces a daunting challenge against the tournament favourites.
With the T20 World Cup returning to the subcontinent after years, fan excitement is at fever pitch. A packed Wankhede crowd and massive global viewership are expected for the February 7 clash, setting the tone for what promises to be a thrilling 20-team spectacle.
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