Indian Fans Steals Spotlight With ‘Aadhaar vs. Green Card’ Poster at T20 World Cup

The 2026 T20 World Cup has seen performances from associate nations, with the Netherlands, Scotland, and the USA delivering strong showings.

Indian Fans Steals Spotlight With ‘Aadhaar vs. Green Card’ Poster at T20 World Cup

During the India-USA clash, fans were quick to notice a placard, which read out 'Aadhaar Card vs. Green Card'. (via Crictoday)

India’s 2026 T20 World Cup opener against the United States of America at the iconic Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, sparked a viral memefest. A placard held by an Indian fan at the stadium stood out, featuring a humorous phrase ‘Aadhaar Card vs. Green Card’.

Playing in the ICC T20 World Cup for the second time, the USA has emerged as one of the most formidable teams among the associate playing nations. So far, the United States has played 55 T20Is, winning 29 and losing 21. It was during the 2024 T20 World Cup, which the USA co-hosted with the West Indies, when they made history by forcing a significant upset, defeating Pakistan in a Super Over in Dallas, Texas.

USA cricket’s rise has primarily been attributed to the fact that the players in the team are expatriates from South Asia or other regular cricket-playing nations, notably India, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. Among the 15 players who have been selected to represent the USA at the 2026 T20 World Cup, a majority of them are Indian-origin players, with the list even including their captain Monank Patel, who was born in Gujarat. 

Nine out of the 15 players in the USA squad are of Indian origin, with left-arm pacer Saurabh Netravalkar being the most notable among them. He even represented India at the 2010 U-19 World Cup, but failed to transform his career. Three others, Ali Khan, Shayan Jahangir and Mohammad Mohsin are from Pakistan, Shadley van Schalkwyk and Andries Gous from South Africa, and Shehan Jayasuriya from Sri Lanka.

All of it sparked a viral memefest not only across social media platforms, but also among fans present at the India-USA encounter. Fans were quick to notice a poster which read out ‘Aadhaar Card vs. Green Card’, humorously implying the match was between players representing India, who hold Aadhaar cards as identification, and those who left India to gain US citizenship. This sentiment was echoed by an ‘X’ user who shared the team’s playing XI with the witty caption, ‘India vs. NRIs’.

Nonetheless, the USA were on the verge of forcing another famous upset, after having dismissed most of the Indian batters for low scores during the 2026 T20 WC clash. Ultimately, exceptional performances from Suryakumar Yadav and Mohammed Siraj ensured India secured a victory.

Suryakumar Yadav’s heroics save India from USA scare in T20 World Cup thriller

Had the United States defeated India in Mumbai, it would have been a historic upset. Although India remains a heavy favorite at the 2026 T20 World Cup, they faced difficulties batting against the USA, but managed to achieve a comfortable win. 

India vs. USA T20 World Cup
India defeated USA by 29 runs in a 2026 T20 World Cup group. (via X)

Opting to bowl first, USA got off to a great start, after Ali Khan dismissed in-form opener and the world no.1-ranked T20I batter Abhishek Sharma in just the second over. Ishan Kishan and Tilak Varma then steadied the ship for a while before they fell to Shadley van Schalkwyk, who also removed Shivam Dube in a three-wicket over. It was captain Suryakumar Yadav who held on, hitting a crucial 84 runs off 49 balls, including ten fours and four sixes. 

Yadav’s knock tested his ability to lead the team through a crisis, given that it is his first ICC tournament as India’s T20I captain. He helped the Men in Blue to a respectable 161/9. Despite Milind Kumar, Sanjay Krishnamurthi, and Shubham Ranjane’s 30-run contributions, disciplined bowling from the home side ensured their victory in the end, as the USA could only manage 132/8 in 20 overs of the chase. 

Mohammed Siraj emerged as the unexpected standout in India’s bowling effort, delivering figures of 3/29 in his four-over spell. Brought in only as a late replacement for injured Harshit Rana, Siraj demonstrated that he is truly worthy of a spot in the T20I squad.

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