Badshah and Nora Fatehi deliver powerhouse performances at the opening ceremony of the 2026 T20 World Cup
The opening ceremony was nothing short of a visual masterpiece. The evening started with a soulful yet powerful neoclassical medley from sitar virtuoso Rishab Rikhiram Sharma and legendary percussionist Sivamani, bridging the gap between traditional Indian sounds and the modern T20 era. The spectacle reached its climax when the T20 World Cup trophy made its dramatic appearance and was carried onto the field by a jetpack performer, a moment that left the 60,000-strong crowd in awe.
After the formal declaration of the tournament by ICC Chairman Jay Shah and Brand Ambassador Rohit Sharmathe stage was handed over to the hitmakers. Rapper Badsha set the stadium on fire with an energetic set of his hit hits, turning the Wankhede into a huge concert floor. The momentum only then grew Nora Facetain took over and delivered a powerful dance performance with her signature precision and flair. The duo eventually joined forces for a grand finale, leaving the crowd ready for the sporting battle that was to follow.
Here’s the video:
nora fatehi performance at Wankhade Stadium for the opening ceremony of the T20 World Cup. 🔥 pic.twitter.com/DcCNUH5ins
— 𝐑𝐮𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐢𝐢𝐢⁴⁵ (@rushiii_12) February 7, 2026
Nora Fatehi set the stage on fire with her performance at the opening ceremony of the T20 World Cup.🔥🥵 pic.twitter.com/JqLggIocli
— 𝐑𝐮𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐢𝐢𝐢⁴⁵ (@rushiii_12) February 7, 2026
Rohit Sharma, the brand ambassador of the T20 World Cup, walks onto the ground at the Wankhede Stadium with the trophy in his hand.🙌🔥 pic.twitter.com/9kAYjWb6mD
— 𝐑𝐮𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐢𝐢𝐢⁴⁵ (@rushiii_12) February 7, 2026
The stars lit up a dazzling evening in the Wankhede before India’s #T20World Cup opener against USA ⚡️
Follow the LIVE action of the tournament and broadcast details in our bio ➡️https://t.co/NPykWM7qqY pic.twitter.com/hZGvnLI3Cp
— ICC (@ICC) February 7, 2026
Also READ: IND vs USA, T20 World Cup 2026: Here’s why Jasprit Bumrah won’t play today’s match
Suryakumar Yadav’s captain’s knock saves India after an early collapse against the US
While the entertainment was seamless, India’s start on the field was anything but. After the American captain Monank Patel After winning the toss and being named to the field, the Indian top order faced a nightmare start against a disciplined American bowling attack. Abhishek Sharma fell for a golden duck in the second over, and out despite a short, breezy 25 Tilak Varmathe Men in Blue found themselves teetering at 46/4 towards the end of the Powerplay.
The middle order offered little respite, such as Shivam Dubey fell for a duck and Hardik Pandya managed just 5, leaving India gasping for breath at 77/6 in the 13th over. However, Mumbai’s own Suryakumar Yadav stood like a rock among the ruins.
The “SKY” show really started during the death overs. Suryakumar hit 84 off 49 balls and single-handedly pushed the score past 150. He was particularly ruthless against USA’s premier pacer, Saurabh Netrawalkarwhich ended with expensive figures of 0/65. For the US, Shadley van Schalkwyk was the hero with the ball and tore through the line-up to claim 4/25. Despite early jitters, India finished with a fighting total of 161/9, setting up a fascinating chase for the US under the lights of Mumbai.
Also READ: Fans erupt as Romario Shepherd’s hat-trick sets up West Indies’ impressive T20 World Cup win over Scotland
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