Donald Trump's good luck message to USA cricket team 24 hours after loss to India
T20 World Cup: Donald Trump posted a good luck message for Team USA's cricketers on Truth Social—24 hours after they'd already lost to India by 29 runs at the Wankhede Stadium.
Donald Trump wished Team USA good luck a day after their defeat to India. (Image: AP, Reuters)
Better late than never? Donald Trump has sent a rousing good luck message to the USA cricket team—unfortunately, it arrived a full 24 hours after they'd already been defeated by India in the T20 World Cup.
The US President took to Truth Social on Sunday evening to share his support for Team USA, posting: "I just heard the Cricket World Cup is underway in India! I wish the best of luck to TEAM USA! We have a very strong team. America is rooting for you!"
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The message, posted at 9:12 pm on February 8, came a day after India had already handed the Americans a comprehensive 29-run defeat at Mumbai's Wankhede Stadium on Saturday night. Trump's post, accompanied by a photo of the USA squad, has garnered nearly 3,000 likes and over 600 retweets, with many cricket fans pointing out the amusing timing of the presidential pep talk.
India Dominate Despite Early Scare
Saturday's match at the Wankhede saw defending champions India survive a stunning top-order collapse to secure victory. Captain Suryakumar Yadav played a lone hand with an unbeaten 84 off 49 balls, rescuing India from a precarious 77 for six. His innings featured 10 fours and four sixes as he almost single-handedly dragged India to 161 for nine.
South Africa-born Shadley van Schalkwyk was the star with the ball for the USA, claiming four wickets for just 25 runs. India's celebrated batting lineup crumbled against disciplined American bowling, with Abhishek Sharma falling for a first-ball duck and several others failing to make significant contributions.
USA's Spirited Fight Falls Short
Chasing 162, USA were blown away early by Mohammed Siraj, who joined the Indian squad late on Friday as a replacement for an indisposed Jasprit Bumrah. Siraj bowled with Test match precision, taking three wickets for 29 runs, including both openers. USA slumped to 13 for three in the fourth over and never recovered.
Milind Kumar (34), Sanjay Krishnamurthi (37), and Shubham Ranjane (37) fought valiantly to reduce the margin of defeat, but India's spinners Varun Chakravarthy and Axar Patel strangled the middle overs, conceding just 48 runs while taking three wickets between them.
USA eventually finished at 132 for eight, falling 29 runs short. While Trump's late encouragement might not have changed the result, Team USA can take pride in pushing the defending champions harder than most expected—even if the presidential well-wishes arrived after the final ball had been bowled.
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