Punjab Newsline,Sports :
Grand Opening at Wankhede as Team India Begin Title Defence
The excitement of the T20 World Cup 2026 continues as the third match of the tournament is being played today between India and the United States of America (USA) at Mumbai’s iconic Wankhede Stadium. USA won the toss and decided to bowl first, sending India in to bat.
Ahead of the toss, the opening ceremony added glamour to the occasion, with popular musician Rishabh Sharma delivering a high-energy performance. The atmosphere became even more special when India’s 2024 T20 World Cup–winning captain Rohit Sharma arrived at the stadium along with ICC Chairman Jay Shah, carrying the prestigious T20 World Cup trophy. The sight of the trophy at Wankhede drew loud cheers from the crowd.
Defending champions India have stepped onto the field with the aim of creating history. So far, no team in the world has been able to successfully defend the T20 World Cup title. This makes India’s campaign particularly significant as they look to break that long-standing trend.
A few notable changes were seen in the Indian lineup for this match. Sanju Samson and Jasprit Bumrah are not part of today’s playing XI, while fast bowler Mohammed Siraj has been given an opportunity. Suryakumar Yadav is leading the side in this contest.
India’s batting begins with Abhishek Sharma and Ishan Kishan at the top of the order. The middle order features Tilak Varma, captain Suryakumar Yadav and Rinku Singh, who will be key in building and accelerating the innings. The all-round responsibilities rest with Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube and Axar Patel. In the bowling department, Arshdeep Singh, Mohammed Siraj and Varun Chakravarthy will shoulder the main responsibility.
The USA team, on the other hand, appears confident under the leadership of captain Monank Patel. With experienced bowlers like Ali Khan and Saurabh Netravalkar in their ranks, the American side will be eager to challenge the Indian batting lineup.
Overall, the stage is set at Wankhede Stadium for a thrilling contest, with fans expecting high-intensity cricket and plenty of exciting moments as India begin their quest to defend the T20 World Cup title.