Cricket might not be the first sport you think of when you hear “United States,” but believe it or not this game has deep roots in America, stretching back to the colonial era. Meanwhile, India is a cricketing giant, where the sport is a way of life for millions. When the United States National Cricket Team faces off against the India National Cricket Team, it’s more than just a match—it’s a clash of histories, cultures, and ambitions. While the two teams haven’t met often, their encounters are part of an evolving story that’s exciting to explore. In this article, we’ll take you through the timeline of their rivalry, with a focus on their key match in the 2024 T20 World Cup, complete with a detailed scorecard. Written in a friendly tone, this journey is perfect for fans of all ages!
Cricket’s Early Days in the United States National Cricket Team vs India National Cricket Team Timeline
Before we dive into the matches, let’s set the scene. Cricket was played in the United States as early as the 18th century, with games popping up in the Thirteen Colonies. There’s even a tale of George Washington playing a game of “wicket” with his troops during the American Revolution! In 1844, the U.S. played Canada in the first international cricket match ever, showing America’s early love for the sport. But by the 1900s, baseball stole the spotlight, and cricket faded into the background, dominated by amateur teams in Philadelphia rather than a strong national side.
India’s cricket story started later but grew fast. The first major match in India was in 1877 at the Bombay Gymkhana, pitting Parsis against Europeans. By 1932, India played their first Test match against England, led by C.K. Nayudu. Unlike the U.S., cricket became a national obsession in India, with stars like Sunil Gavaskar, Kapil Dev, and Sachin Tendulkar turning the team into a powerhouse. Today, India holds titles like the T20 World Cup and Champions Trophy, ranking among the world’s best.
The U.S. and India took wildly different paths, but their stories converged in 2024, when they met in a high-stakes T20 World Cup match. Let’s walk through the timeline of their cricketing encounters and what made them special.
The United States National Cricket Team vs India National Cricket Team Timeline Matches
The United States National Cricket Team vs India National Cricket Team Timeline haven’t faced each other often, largely because the U.S. team only recently started competing regularly in international tournaments. The U.S. earned associate membership in the International Cricket Council (ICC) in 1965 but faced challenges like governance issues and limited matches against top teams. India, as a full ICC member, plays a packed schedule against cricket’s elite. Their first notable clash came in 2024, so let’s focus on that historic moment.
June 12, 2024: ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, New York
The 2024 T20 World Cup, co-hosted by the U.S. and West Indies, was a big deal for American cricket. It put the U.S. team on the global stage, and their match against India was a highlight. Played at Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in New York, this Group A encounter was the first time the two teams met in an official international match.
The Build-Up United States National Cricket Team vs India National Cricket Team Timeline
The U.S. team was riding high after a stunning upset over Pakistan in a Super Over thriller earlier in the tournament. Ranked 23rd in T20I standings, the U.S. was an underdog but full of confidence. Many players, like Saurabh Netravalkar (a tech engineer!) and Harmeet Singh, had roots in India, adding a personal twist to the matchup. India, ranked No. 1 in T20Is, was led by Rohit Sharma and boasted stars like Virat Kohli and Jasprit Bumrah. They were favorites, but the tricky New York pitch, which favored bowlers, promised a tight contest.
India won the toss and chose to bowl, hoping to exploit the seam-friendly conditions. The U.S. aimed to set a defendable total and use their disciplined bowling to challenge India’s batting might.
United States’ Innings: A Gritty Effort
The U.S. got off to a rough start, losing opener Shayan Jahangir to Arshdeep Singh’s first ball, trapped leg-before-wicket. But Steven Taylor (24 off 30) and captain Monank Patel (8 off 16) steadied things, though scoring was slow on the tough pitch. Andries Gous (2 off 5) fell cheaply, but Nitish Kumar’s 27 off 23 balls, with 2 fours and a six, gave the innings some spark.
India’s bowlers, led by Arshdeep Singh (4 wickets for 9 runs), were relentless. Hardik Pandya took 2 wickets, and Axar Patel chipped in with 1. The U.S. middle order struggled, with Aaron Jones (14 off 26) and Corey Anderson (15 off 12) unable to accelerate. A costly mistake came when the U.S. was penalized 5 runs for taking too long between overs—a new T20 rule. They finished at 110 for 8 in 20 overs, a modest total but defendable given the pitch’s challenges.
India’s Chase: A Nervous Victory
Chasing 111, India started poorly. Saurabh Netravalkar, the U.S.’s star pacer, dismissed Virat Kohli (0 off 1) and Rohit Sharma (3 off 6) early, leaving India at 10 for 2. When Ali Khan got Rishabh Pant (18 off 20), India were 39 for 3, and the U.S. sensed an upset. But a dropped catch of Suryakumar Yadav by Netravalkar in the 13th over proved costly.
Suryakumar Yadav, known as “SKY,” played a match-winning 50 not out off 49 balls, his slowest T20 fifty but perfectly suited to the situation. Shivam Dube supported with 31 not out off 35, and their 67-run partnership guided India to 111 for 3 in 18.2 overs, winning by 7 wickets with 10 balls to spare. The U.S. bowlers, especially Netravalkar (2 for 18) and Ali Khan (1 for 21), fought hard, but India’s experience shone through.
United States National Cricket Team vs India National Cricket Team Timeline The Scorecard
Here’s the full scorecard for the match, broken down for easy reading:
|
Team |
Batter |
Runs |
Balls |
4s |
6s |
Strike Rate |
Dismissal |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
United States |
Shayan Jahangir |
0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
lbw b Arshdeep Singh |
|
Steven Taylor |
24 | 30 | 0 | 2 | 80.00 |
c Siraj b Pandya |
|
|
Andries Gous |
2 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 40.00 |
c Pandya b Arshdeep Singh |
|
|
Monank Patel (c) |
8 | 16 | 0 | 0 | 50.00 |
c Pant b Axar Patel |
|
|
Nitish Kumar |
27 | 23 | 2 | 1 | 117.39 |
c Siraj b Arshdeep Singh |
|
|
Aaron Jones |
14 | 26 | 0 | 1 | 53.85 |
c Kohli b Pandya |
|
|
Corey Anderson |
15 | 12 | 0 | 1 | 125.00 |
c Pant b Arshdeep Singh |
|
|
Harmeet Singh |
2 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 50.00 |
run out (Siraj/Pant) |
|
|
Shadley van Schalkwyk |
11 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 110.00 |
not out |
|
|
Extras |
(lb 2, w 5) |
7 | |||||
|
Total |
(20 overs, 8 wickets) |
110 |
|
India Bowling |
Bowler |
Overs |
Maidens |
Runs |
Wickets |
Economy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Arshdeep Singh |
4 | 0 | 9 | 4 | 2.25 | |
|
Jasprit Bumrah |
4 | 0 | 25 | 0 | 6.25 | |
|
Mohammed Siraj |
4 | 0 | 25 | 0 | 6.25 | |
|
Hardik Pandya |
3 | 0 | 14 | 2 | 4.67 | |
|
Shivam Dube |
1 | 0 | 11 | 0 | 11.00 | |
|
Axar Patel |
4 | 0 | 24 | 1 | 6.00 |
|
Team |
Batter |
Runs |
Balls |
4s |
6s |
Strike Rate |
Dismissal |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
India |
Rohit Sharma (c) |
3 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 50.00 |
c Gous b Netravalkar |
|
Virat Kohli |
0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
c Gous b Netravalkar |
|
|
Rishabh Pant (wk) |
18 | 20 | 1 | 1 | 90.00 |
b Ali Khan |
|
|
Suryakumar Yadav |
50 | 49 | 2 | 2 | 102.04 |
not out |
|
|
Shivam Dube |
31 | 35 | 1 | 1 | 88.57 |
not out |
|
|
Extras |
(lb 2, w 6, pen 5) |
13 | |||||
|
Total |
(18.2 overs, 3 wickets) |
111 |
|
United States Bowling |
Bowler |
Overs |
Maidens |
Runs |
Wickets |
Economy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Saurabh Netravalkar |
4 | 0 | 18 | 2 | 4.50 | |
|
Ali Khan |
3.2 | 0 | 21 | 1 | 6.30 | |
|
Nosthush Kenjige |
4 | 0 | 29 | 0 | 7.25 | |
|
Corey Anderson |
3 | 0 | 17 | 0 | 5.67 | |
|
Shadley van Schalkwyk |
4 | 0 | 24 | 0 | 6.00 |
Result: India won by 7 wickets (with 10 balls remaining).
Player of the Match: Arshdeep Singh (4 for 9).
Venue: Nassau County International Cricket Stadium, New York.
Key Moments
-
Early Blows by Netravalkar: Dismissing Kohli and Sharma in quick succession gave the U.S. hope of a historic upset.
-
Dropped Catch: Netravalkar’s drop of Suryakumar Yadav in the 13th over was a turning point, allowing India to stabilize.
-
Suryakumar’s Fifty: SKY’s measured 50 showed his ability to adapt to a tough pitch, earning praise from fans.
-
Arshdeep’s Magic: Arshdeep’s 4 wickets, including the first-ball dismissal of Jahangir, earned him the Player of the Match award.
-
Penalty Runs: The U.S.’s 5-run penalty for slow over rates was a rare and costly error.
What Made It Special?
For the U.S., this match was a chance to show they could compete with the world’s best. Despite the loss, their early breakthroughs and disciplined bowling won hearts. For India, it was a test of nerve on a bowler-friendly pitch, and their middle-order grit secured a spot in the Super Eights. The game also highlighted cricket’s growing buzz in the U.S., with many American fans—especially those of Indian descent—cheering both teams.
Why Haven’t They Played More Often?
The United States National Cricket Team vs India National Cricket Team Timeline have only met once because of their different cricketing statuses. India, a full ICC member, plays top teams regularly, while the U.S., an associate member since 1965, mostly faces other associate nations or Canada in the Auty Cup. The U.S. team’s international exposure was limited until recent years, with their first ODIs in 2004 and T20Is in 2019. Governance issues, like the ICC suspending the U.S. Cricket Association in 2015, also slowed progress.
The 2024 T20 World Cup was a rare chance for the U.S. to face a powerhouse like India, thanks to co-hosting duties. With cricket set for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics and Major League Cricket (MLC) gaining traction, more U.S.-India matches could be on the horizon.
Quotes from the Stars United States National Cricket Team vs India National Cricket Team Timeline
-
Rohit Sharma (India Captain): “We knew it was going to be a tough task, scoring that many. Credit to us for chasing it down. SKY and Dube did well in the end.”
-
Arshdeep Singh (Player of the Match): “Very happy with the performance. The wicket is helpful for pacers, so we had to hit the right lengths.”
-
Aaron Jones (U.S. Vice-Captain): “We were 10-15 runs short. The boys were very disciplined, really proud of the bowling unit.”
-
Stuart Law (U.S. Coach): “We had a few warnings about slow overs. It’s something we need to work on.”
The Bigger Picture
This match was more than a game—it was a milestone for U.S. cricket. The U.S. team’s performance showed they’re no pushovers, boosting hopes for the sport’s growth in America. Major League Cricket, launched in 2023 with 70,000 fans attending its first season, is drawing new audiences, and the 2028 Olympics could be a game-changer.
For India, the win was a step toward their T20 World Cup campaign, but the match highlighted their depth, with players like Suryakumar and Arshdeep stepping up under pressure. It also showcased cricket’s massive U.S. fanbase, especially among Indian-Americans, who packed the New York stadium.
Looking Ahead
Will the United States National Cricket Team vs India National Cricket Team Timeline meet again soon? It’s possible. The U.S. is building momentum, with plans for stronger domestic leagues and youth programs. India, always a cricketing juggernaut, will likely face the U.S. in future World Cups or exhibition matches, especially if cricket grows in America. The 2028 Olympics could even see a U.S.-India clash, sparking dreams of a new rivalry.
