Italy’s dream start to their maiden T20 World Cup campaign hit a cruel gear when skipper Wayne Madsen dislocated his shoulder during the tournament opener against Scotland on February 9 at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata. A day that was supposed to be all about history and firsts suddenly came with a worrying cloud of injuries.
Madsen’s setback ruled him out of the rest of the match, a massive blow for Italy both on the pitch and in the dressing room. 42 year old man is most experienced party leader, and losing him in their very first World Cup race is the kind of setback no debutant wants.
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According to the first updates, the Italian medical team will now take a closer look at the dislocated shoulder while also checking for other neck injuries or signs of concussion. A clearer update on whether Madsen can play any further role at the World Cup is expected once these assessments are complete.
How did Wayne Madsen get injured?
The moment came early in Scotland’s innings after Italy won the toss and Madsen opted to bowl first. In the fourth over, Scotland opener Thomas Draca found a boundary line and Madsen dived in an attempt to break it.
Instead, the Italian captain landed awkwardly and heavily on his left shoulder, immediately clutching it in pain. He was treated on the pitch before being helped in visible discomfort, his injured arm strapped tightly to his body. He did not return for the rest of the clash, leaving Italy with an anxious wait.
Who is Wayne Madsen?
Born in Durban in 1984, Wayne Madsen became eligible to represent Italy through his family roots and made his T20I debut in 2023. Since then, he has played a central role in Italy’s steady rise and was eventually named captain ahead of the 2026 T20 World Cup.
A household name in English county cricket, Madsen has been a key figure for Derbyshire since 2009 and has also featured in global T20 leagues including PSL, The Hundred, SA20 and BPL. And in one of the sport’s most unique crossovers, he even represented South Africa in international field hockey, winning 39 caps and appearing at the 2006 Men’s Hockey World Cup and Commonwealth Games.
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Issued by:
Debodinna Chakraborty
Published on:
February 9, 2026
