After making a lasting impact at the T20 World Cup two years ago on home soil, the USA team is now looking to prove they can deliver on foreign soil, too. Last time, they won against Canada, before stunning Pakistan in a dramatic super over.
It helped them finish second in their group, behind India, and advance to the Super 8 stage of the tournament. While their journey ended there with three losses, they managed to make a powerful statement to the cricket world.
USA have since gone from strength to strength, clinching a thrilling final against Canada to claim the North America T20 Cup. They also won the series against Oman, blanking them 3-0.
Squad
The 15-member squad was officially announced on January 30, 2026: It comprises: Monank Patel (c), Jessy Singh (vc), Andries Gous (wk), Saurabh Netravalkar, Ali Khan, Harmeet Singh, Milind Kumar, Nosthush Kenjige, Shayan Jahangir, Shadley Van Schalkwyk, Shehan Jayasuriya, Saiteja Mukkamala, Sanjay Krishnamurthi, Mohammad Mohsin, Shubham Ranjane.
Probable playing XI
Based on recent training camps in Sri Lanka and warm-up lineups, the likely XI is:
Andries Gous (wk), Monank Patel (c), Shehan Jayasuriya, Milind Kumar, Shayan Jahangir, Shubham Ranjane, Harmeet Singh, Shadley Van Schalkwyk, Jessy Singh, Saurabh Netravalkar, Ali Khan.
Fixtures
Feb 7: vs India (Mumbai)
Feb 10: vs Pakistan (Colombo)
Feb 13: vs Netherlands (Chennai)
Feb 15; vs Namibia (Chennai)
Key players
Monank Patel
Monank Patel will once again lead the team. He was a crucial part of their 2024 campaign, scoring a valuable half-century in the match against Pakistan.
Saurabh Netravalkar
The left-arm pacer is the spearhead of the attack. His ability to move the ball early and his experience playing domestic cricket in India (Mumbai) makes him a threat to top-order batters in Powerplays.
Andries Gous
USA's top run-scorer from the 2024 edition, Gous is in prime form, recently scoring a 58-ball 120* in the ILT20. His aggressive strike rate (145.26) will be crucial for quick starts.
Harmeet Singh
A key all-rounder whose left-arm spin will be essential on the turning tracks of Chennai and Colombo. Having played in India's domestic circuit previously, his local knowledge of soil and conditions is a strategic asset.
Saiteja Mukkamalla
Saiteja Mukkamalla is the team’s highest-ranked batter. He is currently ranked 25th in the world, above well-known international players like Harry Brook of England and Cameron Green of Australia. At just 21, Mukkamalla has already scored international hundreds in both white-ball formats. He also holds an impressive T20 batting average of 42.60.
Tournament prediction
While the USA have proved in the past that they can cause upsets by beating Pakistan in 2024, the conditions in the host countries heavily favour the other teams in their group such as India and Pakistan. However, they are expected to give the Netherlands and Namibia a tough fight for the third spot in the group. Qualifying for the Super 8s over India or Pakistan would require a monumental upset, again.