In a crucial match held in Kolkata, Italy faced the West Indies in their final group-stage fixture of the T20 World Cup 2026. Stand-in captain Harry Manenti won the toss and chose to bowl first, aiming to secure a victory after a previous win against Nepal.
Match Overview
West Indies, maintaining an unbeaten streak, had already qualified for the Super Eight. Their impressive performance throughout the tournament positioned them as a strong contender. Meanwhile, Italy was eager to end their group stage on a high note.
Team Changes
Italy made significant adjustments to their lineup for this match. They reinstated fast bowler Thomas Draca and introduced batter Syed Naqvi, marking Naqvi’s debut in World Cup play. These changes were made to replace Jaspreet Singh and Marcus Campopiano.
West Indies Lineup Stability
The West Indies opted for stability and did not make any changes to their successful combination. They chose not to give Quentin Sampson a chance to play in this match, maintaining focus on their existing squad.
Key Players
This match was particularly special for allrounder Jason Holder, who was playing in his 300th international match. He emerged as the West Indies’ leading wicket-taker in the tournament so far, having achieved seven wickets across three matches with an economy rate of 9.25.
Team Rosters
The teams for the match were as follows:
Italy
- Justin Mosca
- Anthony Mosca
- Syed Naqvi
- JJ Smuts
- Harry Manenti (captain)
- Ben Manenti
- Grant Stewart
- Gian Meade (wicketkeeper)
- Crishan Kalugamage
- Thomas Draca
- Ali Hasan
West Indies
- Brandon King
- Shai Hope (captain, wicketkeeper)
- Shimron Hetmyer
- Roston Chase
- Sherfane Rutherford
- Rovman Powell
- Jason Holder
- Matthew Forde
- Akeal Hosein
- Gudakesh Motie
- Shamar Joseph
Looking Ahead
As the tournament progresses, fans are eager to see how the undefeated West Indies will perform in the Super Eight stage. Italy, meanwhile, hopes to build on their prior success and finish the group on a strong note.
