If you watched the IND vs USA T20 World Cup 2026 opener at Wankhede on February 7, you know exactly why everyone is talking about Shadley van Schalkwyk. The South African-born all-rounder turned into a nightmare for India and stole the show with his bowling magic.
In IND vs USA T20 World Cup 2026, van Schalkwyk picked up 4 wickets for just 25 runs in 4 overs. His big moment? A killer triple-wicket burst in the 6th over (last of the Powerplay) that left India reeling at 46/4.
Ishan Kishan (20), Tilak Varma (25), and Shivam Dube (golden duck) all fell in quick succession. He came back later to grab Arshdeep Singh in the 19th over, finishing with 4/25 and helping restrict India to 161/9.
Who Exactly is Shadley van Schalkwyk?
Shadley van Schalkwyk is a left-handed batter and right-arm medium-fast bowler. Born in South Africa, he played nearly 10 years of top domestic cricket there for Free State and the Knights (Eagles), taking 239 First-Class wickets and scoring over 2,500 runs.
In 2021 he moved to the USA. He started with Seattle Thunderbolts, then got picked by Los Angeles Knight Riders in Major League Cricket. He quickly became a key player for Team USA.
He made his T20I debut for USA in April 2024 against Canada, and his ODI debut in August 2024. Before today’s game, he had 15 wickets in 14 T20Is at an average of 27.47.
Also Read: Gold Rate Today 7 February 2026: Strong Rebound After Volatile Week
Career Stats Snapshot (Updated After IND vs USA)
| Format | Matches | Runs | Wickets | Best Bowling |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| T20I | 15* | 104 | 19* | 4/25 (vs India) |
| ODI | 13 | 167 | 17 | 4/20 |
| First-Class | 97 | 2,593 | 239 | 7/82 |
| List A | 124 | 1,113 | 161 | 5/19 |
*Includes today’s performance
This performance in IND vs USA T20 World Cup 2026 might just be the start of something big for van Schalkwyk and USA cricket. From domestic star in South Africa to match-winner against the defending champions – what a story!
Who impressed you more today – van Schalkwyk’s bowling or someone else? Tell me in the comments!
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