ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 — Day 1 Match Reports : Three Dramatic Openers Set Tone for Tournament

The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 began with exhilarating cricket on Day 1, as three Group-stage encounters delivered thrilling finishes, standout individual efforts and early momentum for some of the tournament favourites. Hosts India and established teams Pakistan and West Indies all came away with victories, but not without drama and moments that will linger in fans’ memories as the event unfolds across venues in India and Sri Lanka.

Pakistan Narrowly Overcome Netherlands in Colombo

In the first match of the tournament at the Sinhalese Sports Club, Colombo, Pakistan edged past a spirited Netherlands by 3 wickets with three balls to spare.

The Dutch posted a competitive 147 all out in 19.5 overs, with Scott Edwards (37) and Bas de Leede (30) top-scoring while offering resistance against disciplined Pakistani bowling.

Chasing 148, Pakistan struggled at times before a late acceleration. Sahibzada Farhan anchored the chase with 47 off 31 balls, building valuable partnerships, but it was Faheem Ashraf’s unbeaten cameo of 29 from just 11 deliveries that proved decisive, steering his side to the target. Ashraf’s quickfire finish earned him Player of the Match honours.

Bowling figures also highlighted Dutch contributions, with pacer Salman Mirza (3/24) among the key strike-takers, but Pakistan’s experience ultimately saw them through.

West Indies Dominate Scotland in Kolkata

In the evening’s second contest at Eden Gardens, Kolkata, West Indies produced an eye-catching performance to defeat Scotland by 35 runs.

Sent in to bat, West Indies posted a strong 182/5 in 20 overs. Shimron Hetmyer starred with a blistering 64 off 36 balls, racing to his fifty in quick time and setting the foundation for a formidable total. Support came from Brandon King (35) and Rovman Powell (24) as the Caribbean side built momentum.

Scotland’s reply never quite gathered sufficient momentum, finishing 147 all out in 18.5 overs. The visitors lacked consistent partnerships against a disciplined Windies attack. The highlight of the West Indies’ bowling came from Romario Shepherd, who produced a sensational spell including a hat-trick and finished with figures of 5-20. Shimron Hetmyer earned the Player of the Match award for his blistering knock.

The result not only gave West Indies a confidence-boosting start but also showcased their balanced combination of explosive batting and incisive bowling — a template they will look to build on as the group stage progresses.

India Open Title Defence with Win Against USA in Mumbai

Under lights at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, defending champions India launched their World Cup defence with a 29-run victory over the United States of America.

India elected to bat first and reached 161/9 in their 20 overs, thanks to a commanding innings by Suryakumar Yadav, who top-scored with 84 runs, anchoring the innings through tricky phases and providing the backbone to India’s total. Other contributions filled the card, but it was SKY’s performance that underpinned India’s score.

In response, the USA exhibited fight with efforts from Shubham Ranjane (37) and Sanjay Krishnamurthi (37) offering resistance, but India’s bowling attack ensured control. Mohammed Siraj (3/29) led the charge with crucial breakthroughs, backed by Arshdeep Singh’s steady support, restricting the Americans to 132/8.

India’s disciplined bowling at key moments and Suryakumar’s classy innings enabled them to secure the opening victory — an encouraging start for the hosts in their bid to retain the title.

Day 1 Standouts & Early Statistics

Day 1 saw a mix of explosive batting, disciplined bowling and match turns that highlighted the unpredictability of Twenty20 cricket:

• Top individual score of the day: Suryakumar Yadav (84) for India.
• Tournament’s first hat-trick and leading bowling figure: Romario Shepherd (5-20) for West Indies.
• Notable all-round impacts: Faheem Ashraf’s finishing cameo under pressure for Pakistan.

These performances set early benchmarks in both batting and bowling categories as teams settle into the group stages.

Points Table – Group A (After Day 1):