Who could have thought that half of the Indian batting side would be back in the dugout for only 72 on the scoreboard? And that too against the USA cricket team! A batting disaster for the home team as their batting lineup was crushed like a paper in the hands of the USA bowlers in the third match of the opening day of the ICC T20 World Cup 2026.
As the hosts, along with Sri Lanka and the defending champion, Team India is arguably the favorite team to win this year’s T20 World Cup 2026. But, the way they have started their campaign, no one could have imagined even in nightmares. India’s batting display against the USA is nothing less than a nightmare.
The USA bowlers hit the Indian batting line-up unexpectedly hard
The cricket team of the United States of America hinted about the storm early in the first innings when Ali Khan forced Abhishek Sharma to depart with a golden duck. Though, with a very deep batting order loaded with proven T20 batters, fans were hoping for a turnaround. In reality, it was a hurricane caused by the USA bowlers.
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Things turned from bad to worse for the Men in Blue when they lost three men back-to-back in the 6th over. 37-year-old medium pacer Shadley van Schalkwyk turned into wrecker-in-chief with the ball.
3 wickets in a single over
The experienced pacer, one by one, clinched the wickets of Ishan Kishan, Tilak Varma, and Shivam Dube. Varma and Dube went for two consecutive deliveries. Like Abhishek Sharma, the all-rounder also went back empty-handed without scoring a single run.
With four departures, the pressure was on the shoulders of the skipper Suryakumar Yadav and Rinku Singh. Like most of the Indian batters in today’s game, Singh also made the fans disappointed; Hardik Pandya did the same—he came and went.
During the writing of the content, with Suryakumar Yadav and Axar Patel in the middle, India is 116 for 6. Yadav is nearing another T20I half-century.
Social media platform ‘X’ is flooding with reactions from the shocked Indian cricket fans. “OMG!!!!! Just see the scoreboard & what’s going on with #IndianTeam????,” an ‘X’ user wrote in a post. While some spotted the opportunity to mock the Indian batting lineup, comparing it with Pakistan’s. “Indian batters getting inspired by Pakistani batters,” a net user expressed.
Read some of the notable X reactions here:
OMG !!!!! just see scoreboard & what’s going on with #IndianTeam ????
We can’t run with this low score…#USATeam is so new ,we can’t let them win yaar !!!!!!!#INDvsUSA #WCT20— Yami Patel 👑 (@Pyami777) February 7, 2026
Indian batters getting inspired from Pakistani batters #INDvsUSA #INDvUSA #T20WorldCup2026 pic.twitter.com/BotW4ndDwY
— Fahad Haq (@Fahadkisuno) February 7, 2026
Laughing or crying?? 🤔 #T20WorldCup2026 #T20WC #INDvsUSA https://t.co/6y0DUAVGb6
— Jalal Ahmad Khan (@BaahirOutdoor) February 7, 2026
Another gone for 14
How many players have reached 20 score? 🤔
Anyone???#T20WorldCup2026 #T20WC #INDvsUSA pic.twitter.com/TdlocLvkMj— Jalal Ahmad Khan (@BaahirOutdoor) February 7, 2026
Captain #suryakumar is standing when the team needs him the most.
KEEP GOING CAPTAIN WE INDIANS ARE BEHIND YOU
— Sahil Grover (@groversahil511) February 7, 2026
Surya bhau against USA. #INDvsUSA pic.twitter.com/VfTSnTlyPG
— Justin ipl (@JatinBeerBall) February 7, 2026
After watching the #INDvsUSA match, I realized why Shreyas Iyer should have been in the #T20WorldCup. What do you think?
— SHACHINDRA KUMAR (@SHACHINDRA100) February 7, 2026
You have to call it as mindless batting.
— Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan) February 7, 2026
USA has come out on the park with proper planning. Well done to them.
Expecting team India to bounce back from this early trouble.
— Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan) February 7, 2026
Read More: USA Rattle India, Blow Defending Champions Away Inside the Powerplay In T20 World Cup
