USA Vice-Captain Jasdeep Singh Draws Stick Cricket Parallel to India's Batting Power
United States of America (USA) vice-captain Jasdeep Singh has offered a unique perspective on India's formidable T20 cricket approach, comparing it to the high-scoring mobile video game Stick Cricket. As the two teams prepare to clash in their T20 World Cup 2026 opener at Mumbai's iconic Wankhede Stadium this Saturday, Singh emphasized that for his team, facing the world number one ranked side will be "just another game" despite the immense challenge.
India's Batting Blitz Evokes Mobile Gaming Comparison
Jasdeep Singh's colorful Stick Cricket reference comes in response to India's recent batting fireworks. The Men in Blue posted a mammoth 271/5 against New Zealand in the fifth T20I, powered by Ishan Kishan's century and captain Suryakumar Yadav's 63. Just four days later, they breezed past 200 again, scoring 240/6 against South Africa in a warm-up fixture that served as a warning to all 19 competing teams in the tournament.
"At times it feels like they are playing Stick Cricket," Singh told Livemint in an exclusive interview from Mumbai, laughing as he made the comparison. "But that tells you about the competition that India has. They are big boys, but for us we got to keep in our mind that it's just another game and we have got to do the best for the best interests of our team."
USA's Rising Credentials in T20 Cricket
The American team can no longer be considered pushovers in the T20 arena. Having upset Pakistan in the previous World Cup edition and pushing India hard until the penultimate over in the 2024 tournament, USA is building on their impressive performances. The 2024 T20 World Cup brought USA into the forefront of the cricketing map, with an eighth-place finish among 20 teams on debut that fundamentally changed the players' mentality.
Oozing confidence from their 2024 showing, USA has arrived in India with a clear mission. "Going into the World Cup, we don't just want to take part in it, we want to make a mark and leave a statement that this team is hungry to play out there and get that sort of exposure," added Singh, who still finds time to visit his hometown Punjab where he spent ten formative years.
Overcoming Adversity Through Global T20 Experience
The journey since the 2024 success hasn't been smooth for USA cricket. The national team faced significant challenges including an ICC suspension and bankruptcy within the cricket board, which limited their international exposure to just three T20Is in 2025. Despite these setbacks, Jasdeep Singh and his teammates prepared themselves by participating in various franchise T20 leagues worldwide.
"We were hit by a lot of things," Singh acknowledged. "We have been hit by suspension, a lot of issues and bankruptcy within the board. We have gone through a lot ever since the last World Cup. We haven't been able to get that sort of international T20s going but when it comes to preparation, we played a lot of T20 cricket within the USA."
The pacer, who has transformed himself into one of USA's most reliable bowling options in recent years, highlighted the importance of Major League Cricket and global franchise leagues. "Also the Major League Cricket was happening, that was also a competitive tournament and a lot of our boys take part in various franchise leagues all around the globe," he added.
Wankhede Stadium Debut: Excitement Over Nerves
Unlike many of his Mumbai-born teammates, Jasdeep Singh is yet to experience playing at the historic Wankhede Stadium. Having heard stories and watched videos of packed stands, the 32-year-old expresses more excitement than nervousness about taking the field against tournament hosts India.
"It's a surreal feeling obviously," he shared. "To be able to experience that in India in front of the Indian crowd is a great feeling. I have heard a lot about the Wankhede crowd. I am actually excited more than nervous to sort of experience that."
USA's T20 World Cup 2026 Schedule
The American team faces a challenging group stage with the following fixtures:
- India: February 7 at Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai (7 PM IST)
- Pakistan: February 10 at Sinhalese Sports Club, Colombo (7 PM IST)
- Netherlands: February 13 at MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai (7 PM IST)
- Namibia: February 15 at MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai (3 PM IST)
As the T20 World Cup 2026 approaches, Jasdeep Singh's Stick Cricket analogy captures the entertainment value of modern T20 cricket while underscoring the competitive spirit that USA brings to the global stage. With their growing reputation and determination to make a statement, the American team represents an exciting emerging force in international cricket.
