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    STUMP VISION                                                       FEBRUARY 20, 2026       |  The Indian Eye 41

                             Not a Curiosity Anymore:

                    Team USA Means Business at

                                          the T20 World Cup

                      ARCHAN MEHTA

                  ot long ago, the United States
                  turning up at a T20 World
            NCup was viewed as a curiosity
            rather than a contender. As the 2026
            T20 World Cup unfolds across India
            and Sri Lanka, Team USA arrives
            with numbers that force attention.
            Over the past 12 months, they have
            won majority of their nine T20 inter-
            nationals,  crossed  the  200-run mark
            six times, and averaged close to 190
            batting  first  since  early  2025.  These
            are  not  associate  survival  figures  or
            inflated numbers from one-off games.
                This rise did not come overnight.
            It was shaped by clarity of roles and
            sealed by one defining night in 2024,   Complementing that core is a disciplined bowling attack led by Saurabh Netravalkar and supported by the new generation. A former Mumbai and
            when the US cricket team stunned     India Under-19 player, Netravalkar has taken 20 wickets in 21 T20 innings since 2025 at an economy rate just over eight (ANI file photo)
            Pakistan and knocked them out of
            Super 8 contention. At the time, it
            was labelled an upset. Two years on,   50 off 31 balls and Milind Kumar’s 43   USA’s leading T20I run-scorer with   USA cricket is headed. Born in the
            it looks more like a foundation. Since   off 26 underlined the depth and flex-  920 runs, a strike rate above 137, and   USA, shaped by age-group cricket
            that moment, USA’s batting has car-  ibility in the batting unit. These were   a rare associate-level century. Since   in  Bengaluru,  and  refined  in  Major
            ried intent instead of hesitation. They   not warm-up experiments; they were   2025, he has averaged over 40 across   League Cricket, he scored over 400
            no longer wait for errors; they create   clear signals that USA’s batting model   formats, often absorbing early pres-  runs in MLC and struck 41 off 18 balls
            them. Scores of 217 for 4 against the   travels beyond familiar conditions.  sure before accelerating at the right   against India A. Fearless against spin
            Bahamas and 203 for 5 against Ber-    Just as confidence peaked, prepa-  moment. He allows stroke-makers   and unburdened by reputation, he fits
            muda  highlighted  their  ceiling,  but   ration was shaken by the suspension   around him freedom while ensur-  seamlessly into this system.
            the real shift has been consistency.   of Aaron Jones. One of the stars of the   ing USA rarely collapses after losing   Drawn in a demanding group
                That philosophy was on full dis-  2024 World Cup and USA’s third-high-  wickets, making him the anchor in a   with India, Pakistan, the Netherlands,
            play during the World Cup warm-up   est T20I run-scorer with 770 runs,   side built on momentum.      and Namibia, USA faces challenges
            matches. Against India A in Mum-  Jones was ruled out following anti-cor-  Complementing that core is a   but also opportunity. India remains
            bai, USA chased a daunting 239 and   ruption charges linked to a Caribbean   disciplined bowling attack led by   the steepest climb, Pakistan carries
            were bowled out for 200, but they   league. America acknowledged the   Saurabh Netravalkar and support-  scars from 2024, and the remaining
            forced India to defend deep into the   loss without allowing it to become   ed by the new generation. A former   fixtures are match-ups USA believes
            innings without ever losing scoring   an excuse, a reaction that spoke vol-  Mumbai and India Under-19 player,   it can win. This team is no longer here
            momentum. Days later, against New   umes about the maturity of this unit.  Netravalkar has taken 20 wickets in   to learn what a World Cup feels like.
            Zealand,  they  chased  209  and  fin-  At the center of that stability   21 T20 innings since 2025 at an econ-  It already knows. Now, it is here to
            ished on 201 for 8, losing by just sev-  stands  captain  Monank  Patel.  Born   omy rate just over eight. He operates   test how far preparation and belief
            en runs. Facing bowlers such as Matt   in Gujarat and now leading the US   in the powerplay, returns at the death,   can carry it.
            Henry, Ish Sodhi, and Mitchell Sant-  Cricket Team  back in Indian con-  and controls games through accuracy   Archan Mehta is a writer dedicated
            ner, Team USA scored at nearly ten   ditions, Patel provides calm to a   rather than pace. Alongside him, San-  to telling compelling stories about ath-
            runs an over. Saiteja Mukkamalla’s   fast-moving batting lineup. He is   jay  Krishnamurthi  represents  where   letes, teams, and the world of cricket

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