Piyush Goyal Hails US Cricket Team's Fabulous Display in T20 World Cup Clash

Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal on Monday praised the United States cricket team for its “fabulous” performance against India in a T20 World Cup match, despite the hosts securing a comfortable victory. Speaking at a reception hosted by US Ambassador Sergio Gor, Goyal lauded the rapid progress made by a team from a country with limited cricketing history.

Responding to light-hearted remarks by the US ambassador, Goyal mixed sport with trade diplomacy, joking that the Americans might have won the match had they imposed zero tariffs on Indian goods. His comments drew laughter at the event, which was attended by officials and guests who had also watched the India–USA clash over the weekend.

“The US may not have won the match, but for a country that has only taken up cricket a few years ago, the performance was truly fabulous,” Goyal said. Referring to Ambassador Gor’s playful analysis of the result, he added that a “humble suggestion” on reciprocal tariffs could have changed the outcome, underscoring the informal tone of the exchange.

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India registered their first win of the tournament with a 29-run victory after posting 161 for 9 in 20 overs. Suryakumar Yadav led the charge with an unbeaten 84 off 49 balls, supported by contributions from Ishan Kishan and Tilak Varma. For the USA, Shadley van Schalkwyk and Harmeet Singh were among the standout bowlers.

Chasing the target, the US side was restricted to 132 for 8 despite fighting knocks from Milind Kumar, Sanjay Krishnamurthi, and Shubham Ranjane. India’s bowlers, led by Mohammed Siraj, Axar Patel, and Arshdeep Singh, ensured the win was sealed comfortably.

While the result went India’s way, Goyal’s remarks highlighted the growing competitiveness of associate teams in global cricket and reflected a broader goodwill message in India–US ties, delivered through the shared language of sport.

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