The West Indies, led by Shai Hope, will look to continue their unbeaten run in Group C during the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026. They will lock horns with debutants Italy in their final group-stage match at the iconic Eden Gardens in Kolkata on Thursday, February 19.
The Men in Maroon have been the team to beat in this tournament. They have already secured their spot in the Super 8s after three consecutive wins over Scotland, England, and Nepal. Meanwhile, Italy scripted history with a stunning 10-wicket victory over Nepal.
Notably, Italy suffered a 73-run defeat to Scotland in their opening fixture. The Italians now have a chance to prove they can compete with world-class opposition on the biggest stage.
This article covers the WI vs ITA Match 37, including the match preview, live streaming details, pitch and weather conditions, head-to-head statistics, and key players.
WI vs ITA Match 37 Preview:
Date and Venue:
The Eden Gardens in Kolkata will host the Group C encounter between the West Indies and Italy on Thursday, February 19.
Squads:
West Indies: Brandon King, Shai Hope (w/c), Shimron Hetmyer, Roston Chase, Sherfane Rutherford, Rovman Powell, Jason Holder, Romario Shepherd, Akeal Hosein, Gudakesh Motie, Shamar Joseph, Johnson Charles, Matthew Forde, Jayden Seales, Quentin Sampson.
Italy: Wayne Madsen (c), Anthony Mosca, Justin Mosca, JJ Smuts, Harry Manenti, Ben Manenti, Marcus Campopiano, Grant Stewart, Gian Meade (wk), Jaspreet Singh, Crishan Kalugamage, Ali Hasan, Thomas Draca.
WI vs ITA Probable XIs:
Romario Shepherd, who missed the recent match against Nepal, is expected to be rested, with Matthew Forde continuing in the playing XI. They might also consider giving Jayden Seales a chance in the XI for this dead rubber.
West Indies Playing XI: Brandon King, Shai Hope (w/c), Shimron Hetmyer, Roston Chase, Sherfane Rutherford, Rovman Powell, Jason Holder, Matthew Forde, Akeal Hosein, Gudakesh Motie, Shamar Joseph.
Regular skipper Wayne Madsen dislocated his shoulder against Scotland. Madsen missed the subsequent two matches against Nepal and England. He might return for their final group-stage match against the Shai Hope-led team.
Italy Playing XI: Anthony Mosca, Justin Mosca, JJ Smuts, Harry Manenti (c), Ben Manenti, Marcus Campopiano/Wayne Madsen, Grant Stewart, Gian Meade (wk), Jaspreet Singh, Crishan Kalugamage, Ali Hasan.
WI vs ITA Key Battles
Brandon King vs Jaspreet Singh
Brandon King has been providing explosive starts for West Indies and will look to dominate the powerplay at Eden Gardens. Italy’s Jaspreet Singh will aim to find early movement to disrupt King’s rhythm. An early breakthrough could put the Caribbean top order under pressure.
Shai Hope vs JJ Smuts
The middle-overs battle is likely to feature West Indies skipper Shai Hope against the experienced spin of JJ Smuts. Hope has been technically solid, but Smuts’ ability to extract turn from the Kolkata surface could make this an interesting contest.
Harry Manenti vs Gudakesh Motie
Harry Manenti has been a dependable middle-order batter for Italy and faces a tough challenge against Gudakesh Motie. Motie’s control and variations with left-arm spin will be key to limiting Italy’s scoring during the middle phase of the innings.
Shimron Hetmyer vs Ben Manenti
Shimron Hetmyer is a powerful hitter who provides crucial support to the West Indian batting during the middle overs. Ben Manenti’s accurate off-spin has been a vital tool for Italy, helping provide breakthroughs and control the scoring rate in the middle phase of the innings.
WI vs ITA Key Players:
West Indies: Shai Hope, Gudakesh Motie, Akeal Hosein, Shamar Joseph, Brandon King.
Italy: JJ Smuts, Harry Manenti, Wayne Madsen, Ben Manenti, Jaspreet Singh.
WI vs ITA Free Live Streaming in India, Live Telecast
TV Rights in India: The WI vs ITA clash will be telecast live on the Star Sports Network, the official broadcaster of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026.
Live Streaming Platform in India: Fans can stream the match live on the JioHotstar app and website.
When will the match take place? The Group C encounter will be played on Thursday, February 19, 2026.
Where will the match be played? The contest is scheduled to take place at Eden Gardens, Kolkata.
How to watch the live telecast of the WI vs ITA match on television? Viewers can watch the match live by tuning in to the Star Sports channels.
WI vs ITA Match 37 Weather Report, Pitch Report of Eden Gardens
WI vs ITA Weather Report of Kolkata:
The weather in Kolkata on the morning of February 19 is expected to be sunny and ideal for cricket. Temperatures will range between 28°C and 31°C, with no threat of rain, ensuring a full contest.
WI vs ITA Pitch Report of Eden Gardens:
The surface at Eden Gardens is traditionally batting-friendly but offers early assistance to pacers with the new ball. Chasing has been the preferred option at this venue, with eight out of 15 T20Is won by teams batting second.
The pitch at Eden Gardens offers a fair contest. Seamers enjoy early bounce and movement, while batting becomes easier as conditions settle. Spinners gain control in the middle overs. The average first-innings score is 158, and the second-innings average is 137.
WI vs ITA Head-to-Head Records: Key Statistics
The West Indies and Italy have never faced each other in T20 Internationals. This is the first-ever encounter between the two sides on the global stage.
WI vs ITA – Conclusion:
The West Indies will enter the match as heavy favourites given their world-class depth and the explosive form of their batting unit. While Italy have shown strong progress and technical grit, the skill gap in the bowling department is likely to favour the Caribbean side.
Unless the Italian batters post a competitive total, the West Indies are expected to secure a comfortable victory in their final group-stage match.
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