Former skipper’s toss advice, match-winning knock headline India’s T20 WC win
February 8, 2026: captain Suryakumar Yadav shared a heartwarming moment with former skipper Rohit Sharma ahead of the T20 World Cup 2026 match against the USA on Saturday. As Suryakumar walked out for the toss, he paused to hug Rohit and even sought his advice on whether to bat or bowl. Rohit responded in his trademark blunt style, urging him to field first. The light exchange, captured in a video shared by the ICC, quickly won fans over. Suryakumar took over India’s T20 captaincy after Rohit retired from the format following the 2024 World Cup.
On the field, Suryakumar led from the front with a match-winning unbeaten 84 after India found themselves struggling at 77/6. He stitched a crucial 41-run partnership with Axar Patel for the seventh wicket before unleashing a late onslaught, smashing two sixes and two fours in the final over to take India to a competitive 161/9 in 20 overs. The knock once again showcased his trademark 360-degree strokeplay under pressure.
India’s bowlers then delivered a disciplined performance, with Mohammed Siraj picking up 3/29, while Arshdeep Singh and Axar Patel claimed two wickets each to restrict the USA to 132/8. India sealed a comfortable 29-run victory, continuing their strong run in the tournament. The two-time champions will next face Namibia on February 12 at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi.