India-US Trade Deal: Piyush Goyal jokes USA would have won T20 World Cup match against Suryakumar’s team ‘if tariffs were zero’

Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal on Monday mixed cricket with commerce as he praised the US cricket team’s performance against India in the T20 World Cup and joked that the USA might have won the match if tariffs on Indian goods were zero. The comment came days after India and the United States announced a major trade deal cutting duties on Indian exports to the US.

Piyush Goyal makes cricket joke with a trade twist

Goyal made the remark while speaking at a reception hosted by US Ambassador Sergio Gor, who was present at the India vs USA T20 World Cup match on Saturday. The Minister praised the American side for its rapid improvement in a sport that is still new to the country, while adding a light-hearted reference to trade tariffs.

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“The US may not have won the match (against India in the T20 World Cup), but I must say, for a country which has not known Cricket and has started on Cricket a few years ago, the performance was fabulous. Sergio was there to enjoy the match. Sergio pointed out one very important factor - the US lost the match by 18%, and a very humble request I made to him as a suggestion that if only you had made the reciprocal tariff zero, you would possibly have won the match. I was indeed amazed by the fabulous performance the US cricket team did,” Piyush Goyal said.

The comment drew attention for blending diplomacy, sport, and trade policy in a single joke.

India vs USA T20 World Cup: How Surya's team sealed the win

India secured their first win of the tournament by defeating the USA by 29 runs. Asked to bat first, Suryakumar Yadav’s team posted 161/9 in 20 overs.

Suryakumar Yadav led from the front with an unbeaten 84 off 49 balls, hitting 10 fours and four sixes. Ishan Kishan scored 20 off 16 balls, while Tilak Varma added 25 off 16 balls to push India to a competitive total.

For the USA, Shadley van Schalkwyk impressed with figures of 4/29, while Harmeet Singh took 2/26.

USA’s spirited chase

Chasing 162, the USA were restricted to 132/8 and lost the match by 29 runs. Milind Kumar scored 34 off 34 balls, Sanjay Krishnamurthi made 37 off 31 balls, and Shubham Ranjane struck 37 off 22 balls in a fighting effort.

India’s bowlers kept things tight, with Mohammed Siraj taking 3/29, Axar Patel picking up 2/24, and Arshdeep Singh returning figures of 2/18.

India-US Trade deal

The cricket banter came soon after India and the United States issued a joint statement on a newly announced trade pact. Under the agreement, tariffs on Indian products entering the US will fall from 50% to 18%, following months of negotiations that began in February 2025.

The deal will lower duties on Indian exports such as textiles and apparel, leather and footwear, plastic and rubber goods, organic chemicals, home decor, artisanal products, and select machinery. In return, India will scrap or reduce duties on a wide range of American industrial goods and several farm and food products.

With cricket growing in the US and trade ties deepening, Goyal’s joke offered an offbeat moment where runs, wickets, and tariffs briefly shared the same pitch.