T20 World Cup: India v USA – Preview, how to watch, team news and prediction

India captain Suryakumar Yadav knows there is huge responsibility on his shoulders as he leads the cricket-mad nation into the T20 World Cup – but failed to hide his excitement ahead of their tournament opener tomorrow.

India are co-hosts alongside Sri Lanka, placing even more pressure on his shoulders, but Yadav is relishing the moment.

“Playing on home soil is always exciting, I felt that when we played the ODI World Cup in 2023. Crowds coming in numbers, people having a chat around when you are travelling to the airport, so it’s a good thing,” Suryakumar said at the Wankhede Stadium ahead of his side’s clash with the United States.

“It gives you motivation all the time. At the same time, it brings a lot of responsibility also that you are getting to lead such a wonderful side, that too in India, starting at Wankhede. So the boys are very excited to take the field tomorrow. I am sure there will be a lot of excitement.”

India are the defending champions and overwhelming favourites to retain the trophy, especially in familiar conditions.

It is unlikely they will be troubled by the US, although they too won’t find the turning wickets of the sub-continent alien with their squad mostly made up of expatriates from India and Pakistan.

Indeed, three of Yadav’s former Mumbai team-mates – Saurabh Netravalkar, Harmeet Singh and Shubham Ranjane – are likely to play tomorrow.

“They have gone now to the land of dollars, but I see it from a good perspective. It’s good that people are getting an opportunity. Even though they are playing for other countries, it’s a good opportunity for them,” Yadav said. “I have played a lot of cricket with them. But right now, we are having fun with our own cricket.”

The States were one of the surprise packages in the last T20 World Cup two years ago, beating Pakistan before pushing India.

Bowler Saurabh Netravalkar said: “They are far more skilful and experienced and they [India] are one of the best teams in the world, so that is a challenge for us to then step up and see what best we can do. But the format itself has some kind of a luck factor so if the right guys build the right partnership or we have the few key moments go for us then we can give a good fight.”

Team News for India v United States

Ishan Kishan, who opened against South Africa on Wednesday in a warm-up game is likely to retain his place for India at the top of the order. Paceman Harshit Rana has been ruled out of the tournament due to a knee injury and replaced by Mohammed Siraj.

The States will be without batter Aaron Jones, who is suspended after being charged with five breaches of the ICC’s Anti-Corruption Code.

Predicted line-ups for India v United States

India: Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan (wk), Tilak Varma, Suryakumar Yadav (c), Hardik Pandya, Rinku Singh, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, Varun Chakravarthy

United States: Saiteja Mukkamalla, Andries Gous (wk), Shayan Jahangir, Monank Patel (c.), Milind Kumar, Harmeet Singh, Shubham Ranjane, Mohammad Mohsin, Shadley van Schalkwyk, Saurabh Netravalkar, Ali Khan

How to watch India v United States

The T20 World Cup will be shown exclusively live in the UK on Sky Sports. You can stream it on the Sky Go app.

For coverage elsewhere in the world, click HERE for details of your local rights holder.

Prediction for India v United States

It’s impossible to think India won’t start with a comprehensive win. And, assuming they do, the juggernaut will take some stopping.

The US won’t be knocked out of their stride by the conditions, but they won’t be able to match India’s quality in all three facets of the game.