The WI vs ITA showdown in Match 37 of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 is set to be an interesting encounter as West Indies lock horns with Italy on Thursday, February 19 at the legendary Eden Gardens.
Though West Indies have already qualified for the Super Eight stage, Italy will look to end their tournament on a positive note. Here is a complete match preview, pitch report, likely playing XI, and prediction for WI vs ITA.
WI vs ITA Match Details
Match: West Indies vs Italy, Match 37
Date: Thursday, February 19, 2026
Time: 11:00 AM (IST)
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Venue: Eden Gardens, Kolkata
Live Telecast: JioStar Network Channels
Live Streaming: JioHotstar App & Website
WI vs ITA Team Overview
West Indies
The West Indies have been one of the most dominant sides in Group C at the T20 World Cup 2026. The two-time champions have been in stellar form and have won all three of their matches:
35-run win vs Scotland
30-run win vs England
9-wicket win vs Nepal
The Caribbean side has six points and a Net Run Rate of 1.820, which is a testament to their dominance at the top of the table.
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Italy
The Italian campaign has come to an end, but they have shown some signs of being competitive:
Lost to Scotland by 73 runs
Won against Nepal by 10 wickets
Lost to England by 24 runs
Italy has managed to gain two points out of three matches and will look to cause an upset in the WI vs ITA match.
WI vs ITA Pitch Report – Eden Gardens, Kolkata
The surface at Eden Gardens has been batting-friendly in this tournament:
- Average First Innings Score: 181
- Two matches won by teams batting first
- Fast outfield and manageable boundaries
- Good value for stroke-makers
Another high-scoring match is expected, especially if West Indies bat first.
WI vs ITA Head-to-Head Record
This will be the first-ever T20 International meeting between West Indies and Italy, making the WI vs ITA fixture a historic one.
WI vs ITA Predicted Playing XIs
West Indies Probable XI
Brandon King
Shai Hope (c & wk)
Shimron Hetmyer
Roston Chase
Sherfane Rutherford
Rovman Powell
Jason Holder
Matthew Forde
Akeal Hosein
Gudakesh Motie
Shamar Joseph
Italy Probable XI
Justin Mosca
Anthony Mosca
JJ Smuts
Harry Manenti (c)
Ben Manenti
Marcus Campopiano
Grant Stewart
Gian Meade (wk)
Jaspreet Singh
Crishan Kalugamage
Ali Hasan
WI vs ITA Probable Best Performers
Probable Best Batter: Shimron Hetmyer
The destructive left-handed batsman Shimron Hetmyer of West Indies has been performing extremely well:
- 133 runs in 3 innings
- 64* vs Scotland (match-winning innings)
- Unbeaten 46 vs Nepal
Based on his current momentum, Hetmyer might again be the most formidable batsman in the WI vs ITA contest.
Likely Best Bowler: Jason Holder
The experienced all-rounder Jason Holder has been performing outstandingly well with the ball:
- 7 wickets in 3 matches
- Effective control over middle and death overs
Holder’s experience and accuracy might turn out to be the game-changers for West Indies against the Italian batting lineup.
WI vs ITA Match Prediction – Who Will Win?
Looking at current form, squad depth, and tournament momentum, West Indies clearly hold the advantage going into the WI vs ITA encounter. Their balanced lineup, explosive middle order, and disciplined bowling attack make them firm favourites.
Italy may challenge in patches, but unless they deliver a near-perfect performance, West Indies are likely to extend their unbeaten run in the T20 World Cup 2026.
Prediction: West Indies to Win Match 37
ALSO READ: IND vs NED, T20 World Cup 2026: India Remains Unbeaten With 17 Run Win Over Netherlands
