India began their ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 defence in solid fashion, beating the USA by 29 runs in Mumbai — a result built around a collective effort and a captain’s masterclass. Suryakumar Yadav’s unbeaten 84 off 49 balls anchored the chase and set the tone for a campaign that now shifts to New Delhi.

Suryakumar was candid about India’s mindset after the win, stressing that team goals must come before individual milestones and that the side’s recent form is no accident. “If you prioritise team goals ahead of personal milestones, more often than not, I feel the team will be in a dominant position… I don’t see any reason why we can’t go all the way,” he said, underlining the dressing room’s collective focus and belief. 

The next test is Namibia at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on February 12, where India will aim to build momentum and manage workloads carefully ahead of bigger fixtures. The Delhi crowd and familiar conditions present both an opportunity and a little pressure for the hosts to deliver consistently.

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The Indian T20I skipper also highlighted the need for freedom within the squad — encouraging players to express themselves while maintaining honesty in communication.

“Honesty and freedom of speech are essential to a team sport… giving everyone the freedom to play their natural game is key to maintaining a healthy team atmosphere,” he added, pointing to a culture that balances structure with individual flair.

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After the Namibia game, India face a high-profile clash with Pakistan in Colombo on February 15, followed by the Netherlands in Ahmedabad on February 18 — a compact schedule that makes rotation and recovery critical. The win over the USA bought India breathing room, but staying sharp in the group stage will be crucial if the defending champions are to go deep once more.