USA pacer Shadley van Schalkwyk sent shockwaves among Indian fans on Saturday after producing a sensational spell against India in their ICC T20 World Cup encounter, scalping three wickets in a single over and leaving the tournament favorites in early trouble.
Van Schalkwyk’s burst gave India one of their worst starts in a T20 innings as they slumped to 46 for 4 in the Powerplay. Tournament favorites India would not have expected such an opening to their campaign, again underscoring the unpredictable nature of the format.
India’s top order collapsed quickly as the hosts found themselves in deep trouble at 63 for 4 after 10 overs, with the American pacer doing the most damage. The 37-year-old finished with figures of 3 for 13 in three overs and struck three times in the decisive sixth over.
After Pakistan-born pacer Ali Khan provided an early breakthrough by dismissing Abhishek Sharma off the first ball of the second match, van Schalkwyk took center stage. First, he removed Ishan Kishan for 20 before unsettling Tilak Varma with a short ball that climbed awkwardly. Shivam Dube then fell first, which was canceled out by another well-disguised slower ball as India slumped to 46 for 4.
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With four wickets down, the onus of recovery fell on Suryakumar Yadav and Rinka Singh. However, Rink failed to capitalize and surrendered his wicket to Mohammed Mohsin as India slumped further to 72 for 5. Hardik Pandya’s dismissal soon after added to the damage and the hosts were struggling at 77 for 6.
Tilak Varma struck briefly after Abhishek’s early departure, adding stability to Kishan’s side, but van Schalkwyk’s incisive spell decisively reversed the momentum.
Who is Shadley van Schalkwyk?
Van Schalkwyk is a South African-born fast bowler who has represented the USA internationally. He studied at Wynberg Boys’ High School, the same institution Jacques Kallis attended, and played domestic cricket for Western Province in 2008 before establishing himself on the South African circuit with the Knights and Free State.
The 37-year-old took what he described as a “leap of faith” in 2020 by moving to the United States where he worked his way through the Minor League system with the Seattle Thunderbolts before breaking into Major League Cricket with the Los Angeles Knight Riders. Since making his international debut in April 2024, van Schalkwyk has proven to be a reliable player for the USA, especially in pressure situations. He was a key member of the historic T20 World Cup 2024 campaign and maintained a strong T20I bowling average of 27.47.
A regular in franchise cricket, Van Schalkwyk is also turning out for the Abu Dhabi Knight Riders in the ILT20. He has represented USA in 13 ODIs and 14 T20Is so far.
Earlier in the day, USA captain Monank Patel had won the toss and elected to field first at the Wankhede Stadium, backing his bowlers on a surface traditionally known for high scores.
India began their title defense against an American side that is steadily growing in confidence on the global stage, and van Schalkwyk’s incisive opening spell ensured the contest began on an unexpectedly dramatic note.
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Issued by:
Saurabh Kumar
Published on:
February 7, 2026
