Match Preview: West Indies vs Italy – ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026

Match Details

• Teams: West Indies (WI) vs Italy (ITA)
• Match Number: 37th Match
• Date and Time: February 19, 2026, at 05:30 AM GMT / 11:00 AM LOCAL
• Venue: Eden Gardens, Kolkata, India
• Series: ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 – Group C

Preview

West Indies will look to maintain their perfect start to the T20 World Cup 2026 as they face Italy at the iconic Eden Gardens in Kolkata. With a balanced squad and strong recent form, the Caribbean side is expected to dominate proceedings. However, Italy, despite a challenging tournament so far, will aim to put up a spirited performance to avoid a whitewash.

This will be the first-ever meeting between these two teams in an international T20 format, adding an element of curiosity to the contest. The West Indies are currently sitting at the top of Group C, while Italy is at the bottom with just one win in three matches.

Probable Playing XI

West Indies:

• Shai Hope (c & wk)
• Shimron Hetmyer
• Brandon King
• Rovman Powell
• Roston Chase
• Jason Holder
• Akeal Hosein
• Romario Shepherd
• Shamar Joseph
• Gudakesh Motie
• Sherfane Rutherford

Italy:

• Justin Mosca
• Anthony Mosca
• JJ Smuts
• Harry Manenti (c)
• GianPiero Meade (wk)
• Marcus Campopiano
• Crishan Kalugamage
• Jaspreet Singh
• Grant Stewart
• Ali Hasan
• Ben Manenti

Recent Form

• West Indies: LWWWW (Last 5 Matches)
• Italy: LWLWL (Last 5 Matches)

Head-to-Head Record

• Matches Played: 0
• West Indies Wins: 0
• Italy Wins: 0
• Ties: 0
• No Result: 0

Toss Prediction

It is expected that the toss will be won by Italy, with the winning captain likely to choose to bowl first.

Pitch and Weather Report

Pitch Condition

The Eden Gardens pitch is known for being balanced, with good bounce and pace. It offers a decent surface for batters, especially in the first half of the innings. As the game progresses, the pitch may assist spinners, but seamers can exploit the early bounce and carry.

Weather Forecast

The match is expected to take place under clear skies with warm and pleasant conditions. Temperatures are likely to be in the mid-20s to low 30s, ideal for cricket.

Expected Scores

With the pitch and weather conditions in mind, the match is expected to see scores in the 160-180 range.

Key Players to Watch

West Indies

• Shimron Hetmyer – The explosive opener with a strong record in T20s.
• Romario Shepherd – A reliable and aggressive fast bowler who has been in great form.
• Jason Holder – The all-rounder who contributes with both bat and ball.

Italy

• JJ Smuts – A versatile all-rounder with a good eye for scoring and ability to pick up wickets.
• Grant Stewart – Another all-rounder with match-winning potential in the middle overs.
• Harry Manenti (c) – The captain who will lead from the front with his aggressive batting.

Team Strategies

West Indies

The West Indies will look to dominate the match from the start with aggressive batting and a disciplined bowling attack. Their spinners and seamers will aim to take early wickets and restrict Italy to a below-par total.

Italy

Despite being under pressure, Italy will aim to play positive cricket and target the West Indies' middle order. A strong performance with the ball could give them a chance to chase down a low score.

Prediction

With West Indies in excellent form and Italy struggling to find consistency, the Caribbean side is expected to win the match comfortably.

• Winning Team: West Indies
• Toss Winner: Italy
• Man of the Match: Shimron Hetmyer or Romario Shepherd

Broadcast Details

The match will be broadcast live on:

• Willow TV (USA)
• Fox Sports (Australia)
• Sky Sports (UK)
• Star Sports (India)
• SuperSport (South Africa)

Stay tuned for more updates, team news, and live scores as the match unfolds at Eden Gardens.
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