Can USA's golden generation survive India's sledgehammer?

Monank Patel, born and raised in Anand, Gujarat, moved to the US chasing the American Dream. A decade on, he is back in India and could well be chasing the mythical Indian Dream. With the World Cup starting in India and the promise of a potential IPL contract, opportunities are plenty for the 32-year-old captain of the USA.

"It is a great feeling to come to India and play in the World Cup. As a kid, I always dreamt of playing a World Cup, but I never imagined doing so in India while representing the USA. It's a great feeling not just for me, but for many players in the team," Patel said as his side prepares to take on India.

"They've gone now to the land of dollars," India's skipper said of the USA players, which includes nine of Indian origin. "But I see it from a good perspective. It's good that people are getting an opportunity."

Much is expected of Patel's men, described as the golden generation of American cricket. Having shocked Pakistan and made the Super 8 stage last season, the USA team has recorded a 60 per cent win rate, with 12 wins in 20 games since the last World Cup. They have added quality players like Saiteja Mukkamalla, Shehan Jayasuriya, Sanjay Krishnamurthy, Mohammad Mohsin and Shubham Ranjane to the squad since 2024.

The big stumbling block in their pursuit is the Indian team, which has been like a sledgehammer of late. Suryakumar Yadav's men are an even more inexhaustible force in home conditions—more so in perfect batting conditions like those at the Wankhede, where pundits predict a T20I total of 300 is an imminent possibility.

In a contest between the world's No. 1 and No. 18 ranked teams, low-scoring conditions would be preferable for the underdog. It is not to be so in Mumbai, and David will have very little chance against Goliath this time.

With an 80 per cent win record since the 2024 World Cup and three recent back-to-back bilateral series wins, the Indian team looks unstoppable. The batting line-up is explosive, but it is in bowling that India may have an edge.

In Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, Hardik Pandya and Varun Chakaravarthy, India have an attack accustomed to all conditions. The challenge for captain Suryakumar and coach Gautam Gambhir is to find a way to field both Chakaravarthy and Kuldeep Yadav in the XI.

The sticking point for the Indian team is the weight of history—no team has managed to defend the title, and no home team has ever won the championship.

"Yes, everything runs in everyone's mind. But at the same time, you have to be in the present as well. You have to see what you want to do on the given day, what kind of cricket you want to play. That is, I think, very important," said Suryakumar ahead of their World Cup opener.

Of course, it is a fact that no home team has ever won the T20 World Cup. The record was similar before MS Dhoni's team bucked the trend in 2011 with a side many saw as the strongest of that World Cup, much like Suryakumar's men now. It's time for India to rewrite history, just as they did in 2011.