T20 WC 2026: Bumrah likely to miss India's opening match against USA

The defending champions India could be without their pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah for the opening match of the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 against the USA on Saturday at the Wankhede Stadium, with the fast bowler doubtful after missing a training session on the eve of the game.

Bumrah was slightly under the weather and is understood to have been running a mild temperature, prompting the team management to consider a cautious approach at the very start of the tournament. 

With the India–USA fixture expected to be a relatively one-sided contest, the Indian camp is not keen to take any early risks with their most important fast bowler. Bumrah did not bowl at the nets on Friday, which fuelled speculation that he could be rested as a purely precautionary measure rather than due to any serious fitness concern.

Bumrah remains central to India’s white-ball plans, especially with tougher assignments lined up later in the group stage and beyond. The focus, therefore, is firmly on managing his workload and ensuring he is fully fit for the more demanding phases of the tournament.

In case Bumrah does not recover in time for Saturday’s match, Mohammed Siraj is expected to step into the playing XI. Siraj joined the squad on Friday evening and is the most likely replacement if the team opts to rest Bumrah.

However, with Hardik Pandya likely to take the new ball, Siraj may have to operate as a first-change bowler rather than opening the attack. The think tank is weighing combinations that allow flexibility while keeping the bowling unit balanced.

India face a packed group schedule, with matches against Namibia on February 12, Pakistan on February 15, and Holland on February 18. Among these, the high-profile clash against Pakistan remains uncertain due to prevailing external factors, which further reduces the overall significance of the opening match against the USA.

Given the heavy workload ahead and stronger opponents to follow, resting Bumrah against a relatively inexperienced side appears to be the most sensible option. The team management is clear that preserving Bumrah’s fitness for the business end of the tournament is a top priority as India look to mount a serious title challenge.