West Indies and Zimbabwe will meet in their first Super 8 match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup T20 at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Monday, February 23. Written off in the recent past, Shai Hope’s West Indies rolled over the opposition en route to the second round of the tournament. In the red corner, Zimbabwe defied expectations and boosted hopes of a famous revival by topping their group after upsetting Australia and Sri Lanka to reach Super 8.
The Super 8 Group 2 match between West Indies and Zimbabwe will be played at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. The match will start at 7 PM IST. JioHotstar and Star Sports will provide live coverage and telecast of the match.
For both teams, Monday’s encounter at one of the most famous cricket grounds in the world will be a momentous occasion. West Indies will be eager to prove that their dominant group stage is only the beginning of what could be a successful campaign. Zimbabwe, meanwhile, will be determined to show that their inspirational run so far is no fluke.
As tensions build on India’s west coast, the Indian team will also be keeping a close eye on this Group 2 Super 8 contest. After losing to South Africa by 76 runs, India has seen a massive hit in their net traffic speed and they have entered a territory where their destiny may no longer be entirely in their own hands.
TWO CONFIDENT SIDES, SUITABLE UNITS
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Head coach Darren Sammy, a two-time T20 World Cup winner, was blunt when asked how West Indies are preparing for the challenge of Zimbabwe and how he rates their opposition.
“See how we play a game like this? Who said Zimbabwe shouldn’t be here? A lot of people say West Indies shouldn’t be here either. I think when you’re in the World Cup you have to respect every opposition. And that’s what we did,” he said.
“That’s what I’m encouraging my guys to do. Respect the opposition but believe in yourself, believe in your processes and your execution. So tomorrow we’ll approach it the same way we’d approach a game against India, Australia or anyone else – like us they’re very confident. They’re playing good cricket and I think I’ve said that before T20 is a format that brings teams together on a different day when you’re clear. On the day you don’t have any plans to win the match,” he added.
Meanwhile, Zimbabwe is brimming with confidence. They defended 169 against Australia – a result that ultimately knocked the former champions out of the tournament. They also chased down 179 against Sri Lanka in Sri Lanka to lead their group.
Few will take Zimbabwe lightly now. Yes, results have not been trending in the recent past, but under Sikandar Raza, this current batch of cricketers are playing an inspired brand of cricket.
However, Zimbabwe may face a different challenge when they take to the pitch in Mumbai. After playing all the group stage matches in Sri Lanka, the Super 8 stage – where the stakes and pressure are significantly higher – moves to India. Zimbabwe have not played an international match in India since the 2016 FIFA T20 World Cup.
Will ignorance be a problem? Their captain doesn’t think so.
“So yes, you’re right and I think playing in India definitely helps. But if a team or an individual doesn’t have that experience, rather than count it or use it as an excuse, I personally think we can block it. It’s the same wicket. It’s the same ground, weather, breeze, outfield, players,” he said on the eve of the match.
“If you just try to take all that stuff away for one game which is tomorrow and try to give your best after a good training session on the training ground, it’s not going to guarantee you success, but at least you’re giving yourself the best chance to be successful.
“Instead of worrying about our lack of experience in India, on the pitch, on the field, in the stadium or whatever, we’re going to enjoy each other’s company today. We’ll see all of us if we can help each other out, what were our notes in training.”
ZIM vs WI: HEAD-TO-HEAD
Zimbabwe and the West Indies have met only four times in T20 Internationals. West Indies have won three of those encounters, including their last meeting in the 2022 T20 World Cup.
PITCHING AND CONDITIONS AT WANKHEDE
Expect a red surface with consistent bounce and carry. West Indies have a slight edge, having already played twice in this tournament. They scored 196 and successfully defended it against England and later chased down 134 in just 15.2 overs against Nepal at the Wankhede Stadium.
Short square boundaries are a siren call for big hitters, but the evening dew could make defending totals quite a challenge.
There is no threat of rain. Expect clear skies, high humidity and the new ball to travel quickly under the lights in the opening six overs.
WI vs ZIM: TEAM NEWS AND PREDICTED XI
Both teams are unlikely to play with their winning combinations in Mumbai.
West Indies XI: Brandon King, Shai Hope (w/c), Shimron Hetmyer, Roston Chase, Sherfane Rutherford, Rovman Powell, Jason Holder, Romario Shepherd, Akeal Hosein, Gudakesh Motie, Shamar Joseph.
Zimbabwe XI: Brian Bennett, Tadiwanashe Marumani (f), Ryan Burl, Sikandar Raza (c), Dion Myers, Tony Munyonga, Tashinga Musekiwa, Wellington Masakadza, Brad Evans, Richard Ngarava, Blessing Muzarabani.
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Issued by:
Akshay Ramesh
Published on:
February 23, 2026
