Day six of the T20 World Cup promises a triple dose of high-octane action, with three top-flight clashes featuring heavyweight Australians and even up-and-coming associate powers like the USA and the Netherlands.
The day begins in Colombo where the 2021 champions take on Zimbabwe at the R Premadasa Stadium. The Mitchell Marsh-led side will be looking to extend their winning streak while Zimbabwe look to cause an upset against one of the tournament favourites.
The action then moves to the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi, where Canada will take on the United Arab Emirates in a key Group D clash, with both teams seeking their first points of the campaign. The competition could play a key role in shaping their Super 8 ambitions.
The day concludes with a Group A clash between two teams that have shown immense grit and promise in this edition of the T20 World Cup – Netherlands and United States. The Dutch are coming off a win over Namibia, while the USA are still looking for their first win of the tournament.
When and where to watch
- Australia vs Zimbabwe in Colombo in Group B match at 11 am IST
- Canada vs. UAE at Delhi in Group D match at 15:00 IST
- USA vs. Netherlands at Chennai in Group A match at 7 PM IST
All the matches will be telecast on Star Sports with live streaming available on JioHotstar.
Here is a quick preview of the three matches scheduled for Day 6 of the T20 World Cup.
Match 1 Prediction: Australia vs. Zimbabwe in Colombo
Australia head into their Group B clash with Zimbabwe in Colombo facing a spate of injuries and uncertainty, a theme that has defined their run at the T20 World Cup. The defending champions began their campaign with a convincing 67-run win over Ireland, posting 182 for six before firing the Irish side out for 115, showing depth despite key absences.
However, setbacks continue to test Australia’s line-up. Captain Mitchell Marsh missed the opening match with a groin injury and his participation against Zimbabwe remains uncertain. To cover him veteran Steve Smith was brought inready to slot in if Marsh can’t field. Adding to their challenges is powerhouse batsman Tim David, who is still sidelined as he recovers from a hamstring strain, which has limited Australia’s batting options.
Zimbabwe, on the other hand, made a great start to the tournament as they secured an eight-wicket win over Oman in Colombo. Their pace trio — Blessing Muzarabani, Richard Ngarava and Brad Evans — restricted Oman to 103 while Zimbabwe chased it down comfortably with 39 balls to spare, led by Brian Bennett’s top knock.
Historically, these teams have only met once in T20 World Cup history – in Cape Town in 2007 – where Zimbabwe famously defeated Australia by five wickets, with Brendan Taylor anchoring the chase. That remains Australia’s only loss to Zimbabwe in a T20 World Cup, adding another layer of intrigue to this encounter.
Despite nagging injuries, Australia will rely on their current form and key performers, while Zimbabwe’s momentum and past success against the Aussies make this clash a compelling test of strategy, resilience and execution.
Pitch Report
The pitch in Colombo offered a balanced contest that provides help to both spinners and pacers. Pursuit could be tricky as the surface is expected to slow down. With the strong spin attack at their disposal, Australia are likely to relish the conditions. Around 13-14 hours it may rain, which increases the prospect of the DLS method coming into play. Temperatures should be around 30°C.
Expected playing XI
Australia: Travis Head (c), Josh Inglis (wk), Cameron Green, Matt Renshaw, Cooper Connolly, Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Nathan Ellis, Xavier Bartlett, Matthew Kuhnemann, Adam Zampa
Zimbabwe: Brian Bennett, Tadiwanashe Marumani, Dion Myers, Brendan Taylor (wk), Sikandar Raza (c), Ryan Burl, Tashinga Musekiwa, Brad Evans, Wellington Masakadza, Richard Ngarava, Blessing Muzarabani
Match 2 Prediction: Canada vs. United Arab Emirates in Delhi
Both Canada and the UAE head into Friday’s Group D clash at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi looking to bounce back from heavy opening defeats in the T20 World Cup.
Canadian campaign started with a 57 run loss to South Africawith the Proteas posting 213 for 4 before restricting Canada to 156 for 8. Navneet Dhaliwal’s 64 was a rare bright spot as the rest of the batting struggled against a top-class attack. Prior to the World Cup, Canada went undefeated in the regional finals in the Americas, but progressing through the competition revealed the team’s limitations.
UAE also suffered a convincing 10-wicket defeat against New Zealand, who were bowled out for 174 in just 15.2 overs by aggressive top-order batting. While the UAE batting, led by captain Muhammad Waseem and Alishan Sharafu, showed promise, their bowling lacked the penetration needed against elite opposition.
The two sides are part of the ‘Group of Death’ along with New Zealand, South Afghanistan and Afghanistan, making the road to the Super Eight extremely tough. This match between the two associate nations is essentially a must-win for both sides if they hope to keep their tournament hopes alive.
Canada will look to build on the fight shown by Dhaliwal and Harsh Thaker, while the UAE will rely on their experienced core. Fans can expect a very competitive encounter as both teams seek their first World Cup victory.
Pitch Report
The pitch at the Arun Jaitley Stadium also offered an even match. The surface generally favors chasing sides, which should suit UAE given their powerful batting. A solid powerplay will be essential to set the tone. There is no rain forecast in Delhi, temperatures are expected to be around 24°C.
Expected playing XI
Canada: Yuvraj Samra, Dilpreet Bajwa (c), Navneet Dhaliwal, Nicholas Kirton, Shreyas Movva (wk), Harsh Thaker, Saad Bin Zafar, Jaskaran Singh, Dilon Heyliger, Kaleem Sana, Ansh Patel
United Arab Emirates: Aryansh Sharma (wk), Muhammad Waseem (c), Alishan Sharafu, Mayank Kumar, Sohaib Khan, Harshit Kaushik, Muhammad Arfan, Dhruv Parashar, Haider Ali, Junaid Siddique, Muhammad Rohid Khan.
Match 3 Prediction: USA vs Netherlands in Chennai
The United States and the Netherlands meet in Chennai in a crucial FIFA T20 World Cup Group A match with contrasting pace and stakes for both sides. The U.S. finds itself on the brink of elimination after losing its first two games, while the Netherlands look to build on recent success and keep their Super Eight hopes alive.
USA began their campaign with a 29-run loss to India, this was followed by a 32-run defeat to Pakistan. In the last match, Pakistan posted 190/9, powered by Sahibzada Farhan’s 73, while USA were restricted to 158/8 despite a brave 51 from Shubham Ranjan. These results left the Americans 02 with a net rate of -1.45, bottom of Group A and under huge pressure to perform against the Dutch.
Meanwhile, the Netherlands have bounced back impressively. After a narrow three-wicket loss to Pakistan in their opening match, they beat Namibia convincingly as they chased down 157 with seven wickets in hand and 12 balls to spare in Delhi. Bas de Leede played an unbeaten 72 off 48 balls while Scott Edwards and others provided vital support. The win cemented the Netherlands’ reputation as one of the most consistently associated sides in T20 World Cup history.
This match is a must for USA to stay alive in the tournament. They will need more consistency from their top order and sharper death bowling to contain a confident Dutch side. The Netherlands, on the other hand, will try to turn the momentum into another victory and get closer to qualifying for the Super Eight. Fans can expect a very intense battle with both teams fighting for pride, points and promotion.
Pitch Report
Chennai has been the place to bat in the ongoing tournament and high scores have become the norm. Teams may need around 185 to feel confident defending the total. Pursuit could again be the preferred option. However, spinners are likely to play a role as Mujeeb Ur Rahman has shown earlier. There is no forecast for rain and the temperature should be around 27°C.
Expected playing XI
USA: Andries Gous (wk), Shayan Jahangir, Monank Patel (c), Milind Kumar, Sanjay Krishnamurthi, Shubham Ranjane, Harmeet Singh, Mohammad Mohsin, Shadley van Schalkwyk, Ehsan Adil, Saurabh Netravalkar
Netherlands: Michael Levitt, Max O’Dowd, Bas de Leede, Colin Ackermann, Scott Edwards (c) (wk), Zach Lion-Cachet, Logan van Beek, Aryan Dutt, Roelof van der Merwe, Timm van der Gugten, Fred Klaassen
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Issued by:
sabyasachi chowdhury
Published on:
February 13, 2026
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