T20 World Cup 2026 Kickoff: India Survives Scare, Windies Dominate, and Pakistan Edges a Thriller

The wait is finally over. The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 has officially arrived, and if Day 1 is anything to go by, we are in for a rollercoaster of a tournament. Co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka, the opening day featured a triple-header that delivered everything cricket fans asked for—close finishes, a hat-trick, and a heavy dose of drama.

Here is a wrap of the action from the three opening matches on February 7, 2026.

Match 1: Pakistan Escapes a Dutch Scare

Venue: SSC Cricket Ground, Colombo

Result: Pakistan won by a narrow margin

The tournament opener in Colombo was supposed to be a routine win for the Men in Green, but the Netherlands had other plans. In typical Pakistan fashion, the match swung like a pendulum.

Batting first, Pakistan struggled to find rhythm against a disciplined Dutch bowling attack. It wasn't until a late surge, reportedly powered by Faheem Ashraf’s hitting in the death overs, that they posted a defendable total. The chase was tense. The Netherlands looked poised to pull off the first upset of the tournament, pushing Pakistan into a corner. However, Pakistan’s experience with the ball—and perhaps a bit of luck—helped them hold their nerve in the final overs to seal a tight victory.

It wasn't the cleanest performance, but as they say in tournament play: 2 points are 2 points.

Match 2: Calypso Power Returns to Eden Gardens

Venue: Eden Gardens, Kolkata

Result: West Indies beat Scotland by 35 runs

The second match of the day saw the two-time champions, West Indies, return to one of their favorite hunting grounds—Eden Gardens. Facing Scotland, the Windies flexed their muscles with a clinical all-round performance.

Shimron Hetmyer and the middle order ensured the Caribbean side posted a formidable total. But the headline act belonged to Romario Shepherd. The all-rounder etched his name in the history books early, claiming the first hat-trick of the 2026 edition. His burst broke the back of the Scottish chase, ensuring they never really got close to the target. Scotland fought bravely, but the gap in power and skill was evident. West Indies look dangerous, and they’ve sent a clear warning to Group C.

Match 3: India Stutters, Then Soars Against USA

Venue: Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai

Result: India won by 29 runs

The main event of the night was at the Wankhede, where defending champions India took on the USA. What was expected to be a one-sided affair turned into a genuine contest, thanks to a spirited American bowling effort.

Opting to bowl first, the USA stunned the Mumbai crowd. Ali Khan was breathing fire, and suddenly, India was reeling at 46/4 inside the powerplay. The top order, including Abhishek Sharma and Shivam Dube, was back in the hut early.

Cometh the hour, cometh the man. Captain Suryakumar Yadav played a rescue knock for the ages. Anchoring the innings while still finding boundaries, he scored a fighting half-century and stitched a crucial partnership with Axar Patel (who chipped in with a valuable 40-odd). India dragged their total to a competitive 161/9.

In reply, the USA showed grit but lacked the firepower to chase down the total against India’s quality attack. Mohammed Siraj, stepping up as the leader of the pack, claimed 3 wickets for 29 runs, while Arshdeep Singh’s early strikes kept the pressure on. The USA finished on 132/8, falling 29 runs short.

The Takeaway

Day 1 proved that the gap between the "big teams" and the associates is closing. The USA and Netherlands both pushed heavyweights to the limit, while the West Indies showed they are here to entertain. If this triple-header was just the appetizer, the main course is going to be spectacular.

Next up: All eyes turn to Chennai and Mumbai for Day 2!