MUMBAI: Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav admitted on Friday “there will be nerves” when India open their ICC T20 World Cup campaign in front of more than 30,000 fanatical home supporters in Mumbai, but vowed to give them “entertainment”.
The co-hosts start their Group ‘A’ campaign against the United States at a packed Wankhede Stadium on Saturday night.
Suryakumar is only too aware that India, the top-ranked T20 team in the world, are overwhelming favourites to retain their title.
But he said his team will try to feed off the positive vibes from a billion-plus home supporters and not be crushed by the huge weight of expectation.
“When you’re playing at home there is always an added pressure. I’m not running away from the fact,” Suryakumar told reporters ahead of India’s final training session on Friday.
“To be honest, there will be nerves, there will be pressure, but if you see the positive side of it, there’ll be a lot of cheer around.
“There’s so many people coming to watch in the stadiums, I’ve told my boys the same thing, 30,000-35,000 people coming and so many watching at home.
“Let’s give them a good time. Let’s give them entertainment.”
India know that their opening opponents, the United States, caused the biggest upset of the 2024 tournament when they beat Pakistan in a super over, and Suryakumar said no team would be taken lightly.
“I don’t see any weak teams in the competition. All 20 teams are very much capable of playing some good cricket,” he said. “In this format, one or two batters can make a difference. Or it takes one or two bowlers to have a good 24 balls on any given day.
“So we will have to play the same way as we’ve been playing against all the teams.”
USA’s middle order batsman Sanjay Krishnamurthi said it was an honour to play the opening match against the hosts in Mumbai.
“I think for all Americans, this is a special moment for our country,” said the Oregon-born 22-year-old. “To be able to come here and play cricket in one of the most iconic stadiums against one of the best teams in the world, I think it’s going to inspire a future generation of cricketers to rise through the ranks in American cricket.”
In a blow to Suryakumar’s plans, India fast bowling all-rounder Harshit Rana was ruled out of the tournament late Friday after suffering a knee injury in a warm-up two days before.
“Following consultations with a specialist and subsequent scans, the BCCI medical team deemed him unfit to participate in the tournament,” India said.
The 24-year-old will be replaced by experienced fast bowler Mohammad Siraj. A veteran of 45 Tests, the 31-year-old Siraj has not played a T20 International since July 2024.
Published in Dawn, February 7th, 2026
