Mumbai: The T20 World Cup 2026 was officially declared open in a grand opening ceremony at Wankhede Stadium on Saturday night, with former India captain Rohit Sharma receiving a thunderous welcome as Tournament Ambassador and chief guest of honour. The iconic venue was transformed into a spectacle of lights, music and pyrotechnics as cricket and entertainment came together to mark the start of the global event.

The loudest cheers of the evening were reserved for Rohit, who led India to the T20 world title in 2024. As he walked out to the centre, the crowd rose to its feet and chanted “Mumbai Cha Raja”, celebrating one of the city’s most decorated cricketing icons. Though not featuring as a player in this edition, Rohit remained the emotional centrepiece of the launch ceremony.

He was joined by ICC chairman Jay Shah to welcome the T20 World Cup trophy, which made a dramatic aerial entry into the stadium.

Trophy arrives with jetpack stunt

One of the highlights of the ceremony was the arrival of the trophy through a jetpack performance. A stunt performer descended from above the stadium and landed near the pitch carrying the silverware, drawing loud applause from the packed stands.

Rohit Sharma, flanked by 20 young ambassadors representing participating nations, formally launched the tournament and posed with the trophy for the official opening visuals. For many fans, the moment symbolised a passing of the torch — with Rohit now watching from the sidelines but still closely associated with India’s T20 legacy.

He later met members of the Indian team, now led by Suryakumar Yadav, ahead of their opening match. Spinner Yuzvendra Chahal, who was on broadcast duty, briefly stepped away to greet his former captain on the sidelines.

Music and dance showcase at opening ceremony

The opening ceremony blended Indian classical elements with contemporary music and dance, reflecting the fast-paced and global nature of T20 cricket.

The show began with a neo-classical segment led by sitar exponent Rishab Rikhiram Sharma and veteran percussionist Sivamani, who delivered a high-energy rhythmic performance combining classical tones with modern beats.

The tempo then shifted to mainstream stage acts. Punjabi rap star Badshah performed a medley of his popular tracks, energising the crowd, followed by a choreographed dance spectacle featuring actor-dancer Nora Fatehi.

The stadium outfield was turned into a digital canvas with large LED installations, coordinated light patterns and synchronised pyrotechnics in the tournament’s purple and gold theme colours. Fireworks lit up the Mumbai skyline as the ceremony concluded and focus shifted to the cricket action.

India begin campaign against USA

The opening ceremony was followed by India’s first group-stage match against the USA at the same venue. The American side won the toss and chose to field, making early breakthroughs in the powerplay.

India’s top order was jolted as Abhishek Sharma was dismissed for 0 and Ishan Kishan for 20 inside the first six overs. Medium-pacer Shadley van Schalkwyk delivered a key spell, picking up three wickets in a single over and reducing India to 46 for 4, putting early pressure on the hosts.

India made two changes to their playing XI for the opener. Sanju Samson was left out, while Mohammed Siraj, who joined the squad as a replacement for the injured Harshit Rana, was included. Jasprit Bumrah was unavailable due to illness.

Other opening day matches

Earlier in the day, Pakistan survived a tense chase against the Netherlands in the tournament opener in Colombo. Pakistan required a late burst from Faheem Ashraf to chase down a target of 148 after a competitive showing by the Dutch side.

In another Group C match played in Kolkata, the West Indies registered a dominant victory over Scotland. Shimron Hetmyer struck a rapid half-century, while Romario Shepherd claimed a five-wicket haul, including a hat-trick, to seal a comprehensive win.

Conclusion

With a star-studded ceremony, dramatic visuals and Rohit Sharma at centre stage, the T20 World Cup 2026 began on a celebratory note at Wankhede Stadium. As the spotlight shifts from performances to matches, teams across venues will now compete for the title in what promises to be a high-intensity global tournament.