India vs USA T20 World Cup 2026: Silence gripped the Wankhede Stadium last night. Not from an Indian boundary, but from a relentless American assault. This attack left the Men in Blue reeling at 46 for 4. Suryakumar Yadav eventually rescued the hosts. However, the USA’s gutsy performance in the T20 World Cup 2026 opener forced the whole cricket world to take notice.
Who Scared India? 3 USA Players Who Earned IPL Contracts Last Night
Teams have already locked their IPL 2026 squads. Scouts have already started looking toward 2027. Three names definitely made the shortlist in Mumbai.
Shadley van Schalkwyk
Few bowlers tear through an Indian top order on their own turf. Van Schalkwyk did exactly that. His figures of 4 for 25 tell only half the story. He found the perfect swing with the new ball. He knocked over the dangerous Tilak Varma and Shivam Dube in a single brutal over.
Franchises always want seamers who get early movement. He quieted a packed Mumbai crowd. This showed he has the cool head needed for the IPL’s high-pressure games. Teams will likely spark a massive bidding war for him in the 2027 auction.
Sanjay Krishnamurthi
Chasing 162 against India’s spin attack takes serious guts. Young Krishnamurthi showed he has plenty. While others struggled, he put together a calm 37. He handled the tricky spin of Axar Patel and Varun Chakaravarthy like a veteran.
He didn’t just swing for the fences. He found gaps and kept the scoreboard moving. He also jumped on any loose balls. IPL teams are always hunting for reliable middle-order players who can shift gears. Krishnamurthi’s skill against top-tier spin makes him a smart pick for the future.
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Ali Khan
Speed gets attention, but early wickets win games. Ali Khan set the tone for the whole night. He got Abhishek Sharma out for a golden duck. This rattled the Indian dugout right away. His raw pace and aggressive style put the batters on the back foot from the start.
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He finished with fewer wickets than Van Schalkwyk. However, his fierce opening spell sparked panic. This let the USA take control of the powerplay. Teams looking for a tearaway fast bowler to back up their stars will see Khan as a massive find. He makes things happen the moment he starts bowling.
