With all eight Super 8 berths sealed in the 2026 T20 World Cup, Thursday marks the first day of the tournament with no qualifying permutations in play. But that doesn’t mean there’s a lack of excitement.
West Indies and Italy begin proceedings at the Eden Gardens, a venue known for its high-energy atmosphere and high-scoring encounters. While the West Indies will be looking to maintain their unbeaten run, Italy will be eager to get out of the group stage on a high.
Attention then shifts to the R Premadasa Stadium where Sri Lanka face Zimbabwe in a potentially thrilling match. The day ends at the MA Chidambaram Stadium where Afghanistan and Canada play for pride after their elimination.
When and where to watch
- West Indies vs Italy in Kolkata in Group C match at 11:00 IST
- Sri Lanka vs Zimbabwe in Colombo in Group B match at 15:00 IST
- Afghanistan vs Canada at Chennai in Group D 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 12 of the T20 World Cup.
Match 1 Prediction: West Indies vs Italy in Kolkata
Thursday’s Super 8 clash between West Indies and Italy at the Eden Gardens might look one-sided on paper, but it’s something to watch. West Indies were one of the most dominant teams in the tournament, dominating Group C and securing their place in the Super 8 with commanding performances.
Their 30-run win over England stands out as they posted 196 for six and restricted the visitors to 166. With a lethal combination of big hitting and incisive bowling, they kept the opposition under constant pressure.
Making their T20 World Cup debut, Italy have been a revelation and will be playing purely for pride. The Azzurri announced a 10-wicket win over Nepal as they chased down 124 in just 12.4 overs without losing a wicket.
In a hard-fought clash with England, Italy pushed the two-time champions hard, scoring 178 in reply for 203. Ben Manenti’s 60 off 25 balls and Grant Stewart’s 45 showcased their fearless approach. even though they fell behind by 24 runs.
While the West Indies enter this match with momentum and confidence, Italy’s spirited performances – especially against the top teams – suggest they won’t just roll over. Expect a team that plays with freedom and pride against one that aims to maintain its dominant tournament rhythm.
Pitch Report
The pitch at Eden Gardens was batsman friendly with an average score of 177 in four T20Is. However, three of those four matches were won by the team batting first, suggesting that setting a target might be the preferred strategy. Expect occasional cloud cover, but rain is not expected yet.
Expected playing XI
West Indies: Brandon King, Shai Hope (w/o), Shimron Hetmyer, Roston Chase, Sherfane Rutherford, Rovman Powell, Jason Holder, Matthew Forde, Akeal Hosein, Gudakesh Motie, Shamar Joseph
Italy: Justin Mosca, Anthony Mosca, JJ Smuts, Harry Manenti(c), Ben Manenti, Marcus Campopiano, Grant Stewart, Gian Meade(w), Jaspreet Singh, Crishan Kalugamage, Ali Hasan
Match 2 Prediction: Sri Lanka vs Zimbabwe in Colombo
Thursday’s Group B match at the R Premadasa Stadium features two well-prepared sides, both unbeaten in the T20 World Cup so far. Sri Lanka were one of the standout teams and won all three of their matches convincingly. In their last outing, Pathum Nissanka scored an unbeaten century to lead them to an eight-wicket victory over Australia, making 182 with ease and securing a place in the Super 8.
Zimbabwe also impressed. They entered the tournament as underdogs and stunned tournament favorites Australia by 23 runs in Colombo, with composed batting and disciplined bowling that underlined their strength. With five points already secured, Zimbabwe now have an opportunity to go top of the Group B table with a win.
Head-to-head history slightly favors Sri Lanka, who have won eight of their 11 T20 encounters with Zimbabwe, but Zimbabwe are in excellent form and have every chance of taking on the co-hosts.
Sri Lanka will be without the injured Mathesh Pathiranwhich was expelled with muscle strain; Left-arm seamer Dilshan Madushanka was named as his successor. Although a setback, Sri Lanka’s firepower and momentum remains intact.
Expect a high-quality competition as Sri Lanka aim to maintain their perfect record and Zimbabwe aim to finish the group stage at the top of the table.
Pitch Report
The pitch at the R Premadasa Stadium has been reasonably good for batting with an average score of 158. However, teams should opt to bat first as the chasing sides have lost all four matches played here so far in the tournament.
Conditions in Colombo are expected to be tough, with clouds and thunderstorms in the area while temperatures hover around 29 degrees Celsius.
Expected playing XI
Sri Lanka: Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Perera, Kusal Mendis(w), Pavan Rathnayake, Dasun Shanaka(c), Kamindu Mendis, Dushan Hemantha, Dunith Wellalage, Dushmantha Chameera, Maheesh Theekshana, Matheesha Pathirana
Zimbabwe: Brian Bennett, Tadiwanashe Marumani(w), Dion Myers, Sikandar Raza(c), Ryan Burl, Tony Munyonga, Tashinga Musekiwa, Brad Evans, Wellington Masakadza, Graeme Cremer, Blessing Muzarabani
Match 3 Prediction: Afghanistan vs Canada in Chennai
Afghanistan will face Canada in their final T20 World Cup match at the MA Chidambaram Stadium. Afghanistan’s campaign has been a disappointment by their own standards – they are third in Group D with one win and two losses, missing out on the Super 8s.
Their batting and bowling units have shown flashes of brilliance, but inconsistency has cost them, especially in close matches against New Zealand and South Africa. Rahmanullah Gurbaz has been key with the bat, scoring 110 runs in three matches, including a well-timed 84 against the Proteas, while Azmatullah Omarzai leads the Afghan bowling with eight wickets so far.
Canada, meanwhile, struggled to win, finishing the group stage winless despite showing flashes of potential. The highlight of their tournament was 19-year-old Yuvraj Samra’s hundred against New Zealand, a historic 110 that made him the youngest centurion in T20 World Cup history and the first from an associated country to do so.
Canada’s squad also includes experienced players like Navneet Dhaliwal, who announced this as his last international match, adding a sentimental edge to the encounter.
For Afghanistan, this game is about pride and delivering for head coach Jonathan Trott a memorable farewell upon his departure after the tournament.
Both teams will be looking to finish on a high, so this will be more than just a dead rubber. Expect spirited performances as Afghanistan look to showcase their quality and Canada look to end their campaign with pride.
Pitch Report
The pitch at the MA Chidambaram Stadium was excellent for batting, with an average score of 188 from five matches and the batsmen enjoying favorable conditions.
Teams are encouraged to line up first as the track is expected to stay true throughout the match. No rain expected, temperatures around 27 degrees Celsius and humidity in the low 70s.
Expected playing XI
Afghanistan: Rahmanullah Gurbaz(w), Ibrahim Zadran, Gulbadin Naib, Sediqullah Atal, Darwish Rasooli, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan(c), Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Noor Ahmad, Ziaur Rahman Sharifi
Canada: Yuvraj Samra, Dilpreet Bajwa(c), Navneet Dhaliwal, Harsh Thaker, Nicholas Kirton, Shreyas Movva(w), Saad Bin Zafar, Shivam Sharma, Dilon Heyliger, Jaskaran Singh, Ansh Patel
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Issued by:
sabyasachi chowdhury
Published on:
February 19, 2026