Match Details
- Teams: India vs USA
- Venue: Nassau County International Cricket Stadium, New York
- Time: 10:30 AM local, 8:00 PM IST, 2:30 PM GMT
Big Picture: Party in the USA
Cricket fever is sweeping across the USA, with The New York Times covering it, Drake profiting from it, and baseball fans stirred by it. America’s diverse population, especially the cricket-loving diaspora, is embracing the sport, creating electrifying atmospheres at pop-up stadiums.
India is at the forefront of this cricket revolution, with their IPL teams owning three of the six franchises in the USA’s premier T20 league. The LA Olympics committee’s decision to include cricket in the 2028 Games, partly influenced by Virat Kohli’s massive social media following, signifies cricket’s growing influence.
Cricket in the USA is thriving, with packed venues and enthusiastic crowds. In Dallas, the Nepal team was overwhelmed by support, and India-Pakistan watch parties drew large audiences. The USA team’s impressive performances, including a stunning win over Pakistan, have added to the excitement. Now, they face India, undefeated and eyeing a spot in the Super Eights.
Form Guide
- India: WWWWW (last five completed matches, most recent first)
- USA: WWLWW
In the Spotlight: Shivam Dube and Corey Anderson
India’s Shivam Dube is under scrutiny, having scored no more than 21 in his last seven innings. While New York may not favor his spin-hitting skills, India hopes he regains form ahead of their West Indies fixtures.
Corey Anderson, once a cricket sensation with a 36-ball century, is another key player to watch. Despite a five-year international hiatus, he remains a sought-after talent in T20 leagues and could make a significant impact in this World Cup.
Team News: Eye on Super Eights
India, well-placed to advance, and USA, aiming for the Super Eights, are likely to field unchanged XIs barring any injuries.
- India (probable): Rohit Sharma (capt), Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant (wk), Suryakumar Yadav, Shivam Dube, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Arshdeep Singh
- USA (probable): Steven Taylor, Monank Patel (capt & wk), Andries Gous, Aaron Jones, Nitish Kumar, Corey Anderson, Harmeet Singh, Jasdeep Singh, Nosthush Kenjige, Saurabh Netravalkar, Ali Khan
Pitch and Conditions
The New York pitch, previously unpredictable, has settled, reducing the erratic bounce. The weather is expected to be bright and sunny, conducive to a low-scoring match.
Stats and Trivia
- This will be the first-ever cricket match between India and USA across any format.
- Aaron Jones is the second-highest scorer in this T20 World Cup, with 130 runs at a strike rate of nearly 197. Andries Gous ranks fourth with 100 runs at a strike rate of almost 139.
- Jasprit Bumrah boasts an impressive average of four and an economy rate of 2.85, with five wickets for 20 runs in seven overs this tournament.