India are in dire straits in their T20 World Cup 2026 opener against USA in Mumbai. After being put into bat, the Indian team is tottering at 46 for 4 at the end of the powerplay.
The Indian team lost Abhishek Sharma for duck, but then Ishan Kishan and Tilak Varma held things together for India. But in the 6th over, Shadley van Schalkwyk has spread his web to pick up 3 wickets in an over, getting the crucial wickets of Ishan Kishan, Tilak Varma and Shivam Dube respectively.
Who is Shadley van Schalkwyk?
Shadley van Schalkwyk is a South African-born American cricketer, known as a versatile all-rounder. Born on August 5, 1988, in Cape Town, he plays left-handed batting and right-arm medium-fast bowling for the USA national team and Major League Cricket's Los Angeles Knight Riders.
Early Life
Van Schalkwyk attended Wynberg Boys' High School, where he gained early recognition during a 2006-07 tour of Pakistan against local schools. This led to his selection for the South Africa Academy in the 2007-08 season, honing his skills in competitive environments.
Career
He debuted in List A cricket for Western Province in February 2008, scoring 17 not out. Shifting to Free State (The Knights), he featured in five List A matches and one first-class game that season, plus the 2015 Africa T20 Cup squad. Named for the 2017 T20 Global League with Nelson Mandela Bay Stars (postponed), he later moved to the US in 2021, joining Seattle Thunderbolts in Minor League Cricket and earning an MLC contract with LA Knight Riders in 2023.
Shadley van Schalkwyk International Career
Van Schalkwyk debuted in T20Is for USA against Canada on April 7, 2024. By January 2026, he was selected for the USA's 2026 T20 World Cup squad, bringing experience from 14 T20Is (15 wickets at 27.47 average, economy 9.22) and substantial first-class stats (238 wickets at 28.19).
His bowling and lower-order batting makes Shadley van Schalkwyk a vital cog in the USA setup, who will be aiming to punch above their weight in this edition of the T20 World Cup.
