T20 World Cup 2026, IND vs USA: India start strong favourites, but don't rule out USA in familiar conditions. The United States of America arrived in India with a familiar accent, carrying echoes of the same system, with five Indians, including their captain Monank Patel, three Pakistanis, and only four players born in the States. Their careers might have gone West, but their dreams of playing a World Cup game at the Mecca of Indian cricket are about to get fulfilled, even if it comes wearing a different colour. India captain Suryakumar Yadav, while walking down the stairs of Wankhede on Saturday, perhaps, will take a trip down memory lane and revisit those days when he and USA's Saurabh Netravalkar played for the same team, while climbing up the ranks in junior cricket in Mumbai. It would look all so familiar for both the players against the backdrop of the Wankhede dirt where their professional journeys began. Cut to reality, and India would start as outright favourites, but USA would know that miracles do happen in sport, and if it is their day, there will only be a handful of Indians celebrating amid a sea of blues at Wankhede. The Indian bowling looks to have all bases covered as well, with Jasprit Bumrah and Arshdeep Singh expected to take the new ball, and Varun Chakravarthy in the middle-overs, who can be their X-factor in the World Cup. Milind Kumar, Jasdeep Singh, along with Saurabh Netravalkar and Harmeet Singh make up a potent bowling unit for USA as well. But even with the potential that they have shown in the recent past, they might fall considerably short at Wankhede, given India's all-round strength. The pitch here is expected to be a batting paradise, and the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) can pretty much guarantee a high-scoring contest, with smaller boundaries and effectively nothing for the bowlers to gain from the pitch. The dew, if it does come in, can make matters worse for the fielding side, and this can perhaps be USA's best chance to capitalise if they happen to bat second. For that, they would perhaps need the rub of the green to go their way. The toss is scheduled to happen at 6:30 pm. India Squad: Ishan Kishan(w), Abhishek Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav(c), Tilak Varma, Rinku Singh, Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Shivam Dube, Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, Varun Chakaravarthy, Kuldeep Yadav, Sanju Samson, Washington Sundar United States of America Squad: Monank Patel(c), Andries Gous(w), Saiteja Mukkamalla, Shayan Jahangir, Milind Kumar, Shubham Ranjane, Harmeet Singh, Mohammad Mohsin, Ali Khan, Nosthush Kenjige, Saurabh Netravalkar, Shadley van Schalkwyk, Shehan Jayasuriya, Jasdeep Singh, Sanjay Krishnamurthi Get Latest News Live on Times Now along with Breaking News and Top Headlines from Sports, Cricket and around the world. Sajal Patra brings nearly 15 years of diverse experience in digital and print journalism, and currently leads sports coverage at Times Network, with e... View More