Day nine of the T20 World Cup promises high drama as the race for Super 8 berths heats up. The action begins at Mumbai’s iconic Wankhede Stadium where West Indies take on Nepal in a crucial Group C clash. West Indies can secure a Super 8 berth with a win, while Nepal look to stay alive in the competition after back-to-back defeats.
Next, the United States will face Namibia at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. Buoyed by their historic win over the Netherlands, the Americans will be eager to continue their strong form, while Namibia will look to bounce back and keep their Super 8 hopes alive.
The day concludes with a tournament clash at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo, where India and Pakistan face each other in a high-stakes Group A match. Both undefeated teams have a unique opportunity to secure a spot in the Super 8, making this one of the most anticipated matches of the tournament.
When and where to watch
- West Indies vs Nepal in Mumbai in Group C match at 11:00 IST
- USA vs Namibia in Chennai in Group A match at 15:00 IST
- India vs. Pakistan at Colombo 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 9 of the T20 World Cup.
Match 1 Prediction: West Indies vs Nepal in Mumbai
West Indies and Nepal will clash in a crucial Group C match at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. West Indies qualify for the Super 8 with a win, while Nepal are fighting to stay alive in the tournament.
The Windies have been dominant so far, winning both their opening matches. They started with a 35-run victory over Scotland, powered by Shimron Hetmyer’s 64, and went on to a great performance against Englandwhere Sherfane Rutherford, with an unbeaten 76, led them to a 30-run triumph. These back-to-back victories firmly established the West Indies at the top of the group.
Nepal, meanwhile, will be disappointed after mixed results. They came agonizingly close to defeating England at the Wankhede, losing by just four runs, but were then outclassed by Italy, who chased down 124 not out and won by 10 wickets.
Sunday’s game offers Nepal a chance to revive their campaign, but they will need more consistent performances with both bat and ball against a confident West Indies side in red-hot form. A win for the Windies guarantees their place in the Super 8, making this a very important encounter for both teams to watch.
Pitch Report
The pitch at the Wankhede Stadium has not been particularly friendly to the batsmen, not a single total of more than 200 has been recorded so far, which is unusual for a venue known for high-scoring matches. Spinners play a significant role making it difficult for batsmen to score freely. Most notably, the chase proved difficult as the second-placed teams lost all three of their matches at the venue.
No rain is expected, temperatures should be around 33 degrees Celsius. Humidity will likely remain in the high 20s.
Expected playing XI
West Indies: Brandon King, Shai Hope (c) (wk), Shimron Hetmyer, Rovman Powell, Sherfane Rutherford, Roston Chase, Romario Shepherd, Jason Holder, Akeal Hosein, Gudakesh Motie, Shamar Joseph
Nepal: Kushal Bhurtel, Aasif Sheikh (wk), Rohit Paudel (c), Dipendra Singh Airee, Aarif Sheikh, Lokesh Bam, Gulsan Jha, Karan KC, Nandan Yadav, Sandeep Lamichhane, Lalit Rajbanshi
Match 2 Prediction: USA vs Namibia in Chennai
The USA and Namibia face off in a high-stakes Group A clash at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai, with both teams staring at possible elimination from the T20 World Cup 2026. A loss for either side would end their Super 8 hopes, so Sunday’s encounter is absolutely crucial.
The United States enter the match full of confidence after their historic 93-run win over the Netherlandstheir first ever T20I win against the Dutch. Monanka Patel’s side were bowled out for 196 for six before bowling out the Netherlands for 103 in just 15.5 overs, showcasing depth in both batting and bowling. The USA will be looking to repeat that performance and continue their strong run in the tournament.
Namibia, meanwhile, have struggled for consistency and lost both their opening matches – first to the Netherlands and then to a well-prepared India. Captain Gerhard Erasmus was inspirational, taking four wickets against India, but it was not enough to win.
Sunday’s clash is a must for both teams, with momentum and survival in the tournament. Expect a fiercely contested encounter as the USA look to build on their historic win while Namibia look to bounce back from back-to-back defeats.
Pitch Report
The pitch in Chennai has been the absolute best so far and the chasing teams have won both times. New Zealand made a comfortable 174 in the previous match, highlighting that the bowlers are unlikely to have much room for error. While the spinners could find some help as the game progresses, the conditions clearly favor the batsmen.
The weather in Chennai is expected to remain clear with no rain forecast. Temperatures will hover around 30 degrees Celsius and humidity is likely to hover around 60.
Expected playing XI
USA: Monank Patel (c), Shayan Jahangir (wk), Saiteja Mukkamalla, Milind Kumar, Sanjay Krishnamurthi, Shubham Ranjane, Harmeet Singh, Mohammad Mohsin, Shadley van Schalkwyk, Nosthush Kenjige, Ali Khan
Namibia: Louren Steenkamp, Jan Frylinck, Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton, Gerhard Erasmus (c), JJ Smit, Malan Kruger, Zane Green (wk), Ruben Trumpelmann, Bernard Scholtz, Ben Shikongo, Max Heingo
Match 3 Prediction: India vs Pakistan in Colombo
India and Pakistan face off in one of the most anticipated matches of the T20 World Cup, with both sides unbeaten and a place in the Super 8s at stake. India have been in impressive form, beating Namibia by 93 runs last time out – their biggest margin in T20 World Cup history. After posting 209/9 in the match, they bowled out Namibia for 116 at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi, increasing their run-rate and cementing their position at the top of Group A.
Fitness concerns have surrounded India’s explosive opener Abhishek Sharmawho was hospitalized with a stomach infection earlier in the tournament and lost weight during his recovery. He has since rejoined the team in Colombo, although it is uncertain whether he will feature in the match.
Pakistan also won both their opening matches and showed resilience thanks to contributions from the top order and their bowling unit. They survived a scare against the Netherlands before beating the USA comprehensively.
The build-up to the clash was marked by political tension, with Pakistan initially threatening a boycott in solidarity with Bangladesh’s withdrawal, but reversing its decision following intervention by the ICC and the host council.
India are holding a commanding World T20 match against Pakistan, leading 7-1, and will be looking to extend that dominance. With Super 8 qualification and national pride on the line, this blockbuster promises high drama and top cricket.
Pitch Report
The ground in Colombo does not favor the chasing sides, the teams batting second have lost all three matches so far. Both spinners and pacers are expected to receive similar help from the surface. The average score for the venue is 152, suggesting that a high-scoring contest may not be likely. Free scoring in the power play will be key as batting is expected to become more difficult as the innings progresses.
It may rain in Colombo on Sunday. The Sri Lanka Meteorological Department, through its Natural Hazards Early Warning Center, on Friday warned that a low pressure area is likely to form over the southeastern Bay of Bengal around February 15. Clouds are expected, temperatures will hover around 27 degrees Celsius.
Expected playing XI
India: Sanju Samson, Ishan Kishan (wk), Tilak Varma, Suryakumar Yadav (c), Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Rinku Singh, Axar Patel, Arshdeep Singh, Varun Chakaravarthy, Jasprit Bumrah
Pakistan: Saim Ayub, Sahibzada Farhan, Salman Agha (c), Babar Azam, Usman Khan (wk), Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Faheem Ashraf, Shaheen Afridi, Usman Tariq, Abrar Ahmed
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Issued by:
sabyasachi chowdhury
Published on:
February 15, 2026