India’s Rinku Singh was awarded the fielder of the match medal as the defending champions secured a 29-run victory against the USA in their first ICC T20 World Cup 2026 match at Wankhede Stadium. Rinku’s exceptional fielding, including a crucial catch of Sanjay Krishnamurthi, played a significant role in India’s win.
In a video shared by the BCCI, Rinku was captured preparing for his speech after receiving the medal. Expressing optimism, he emphasized the importance of maintaining team spirit throughout the tournament. Despite his fielding heroics, Rinku struggled with the bat, scoring only five runs in his T20 World Cup debut.
Captain Suryakumar Yadav’s unbeaten 84-run innings rescued India from a precarious position, guiding them to a competitive total of 161/9. Suryakumar, along with Axar Patel, built a crucial 41-run partnership for the seventh wicket, showcasing his versatile stroke-play in the final over with two sixes and two fours.
With Mohammad Siraj’s three wickets and support from Arshdeep Singh and Axar Patel, India’s bowlers dominated, restricting the USA to 132/8. The victory sets up India for their upcoming match against Namibia on February 12 at Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi.
