USA, UAE, Zimbabwe Score First T20 World Cup 2026 Wins

The underdogs are having their day at the T20 World Cup 2026, and Friday delivered three thrilling upsets that have tournament brackets buzzing.

USA opened their World Cup account in spectacular fashion, defeating Netherlands by 93 runs in Chennai. Playing in just his first match of the tournament, New Jersey-born Saiteja Mukkamalla smashed 76 runs off 51 balls, carting the ball to all corners of the park and sealing his half-century with a massive six over cover.

Captain Monank Patel and opener Shayan Jahangir set the tone early, helping USA post their highest powerplay score ever in World Cup matches. The team finished at 196 runs, then defended it brilliantly as spinner Harmeet Singh dismantled the Dutch batting order with figures of 4/21.

In New Delhi, UAE pulled off the comeback of the tournament so far. Chasing 151 against Canada, they stumbled to 66 for 4 wickets and looked headed for defeat.

Then Aryansh Sharma and Sohaib Khan turned the match on its head. The pair blasted 84 runs in just 43 balls, with Khan hammering four fours and four sixes in his 29-ball knock of 51.

Sharma remained unbeaten on 74, the highest score ever by a UAE player in World Cup history. UAE needed 56 runs from the last four overs and got there with five wickets and two balls to spare.

The Ripple Effect

These weren't just wins. They were statements from teams often overlooked in cricket's traditional powerhouses.

Zimbabwe delivered the biggest shock in Colombo, defeating Australia by 23 runs to revive memories of their famous 2007 upset over the same opponent. The African nation now sits second in Group B standings while former champions Australia have slipped to third.

For smaller cricketing nations, these victories represent years of investment, development, and belief finally paying off. UAE pacer Junaid Siddique claimed the first-ever fiver for his country in World Cup history, while USA notched their first-ever T20 victory over Netherlands.

The message is clear: cricket's competitive landscape is leveling, and the gap between traditional powers and emerging nations is closing fast.

Friday's results prove that on any given day at the T20 World Cup 2026, the underdog can bite back.