Nepal will take on Italy in Match 17 of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. Nepal will aim to continue their impressive form after a narrow loss to England, while Italy looks to recover from a disappointing debut against Scotland.
Match details
Venue: Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai
Date: Thursday, February 12, 2026
Time: 3:00 PM IST | 2:30 PM PST | 10:30 AM GMT
Team Overviews
Nepal produced a stirring performance in their opening game against England, chasing a total of 185 and falling just short at 180/6. Rohit Paudel’s leadership and Dipendra Singh’s aggressive batting highlighted Nepal’s intent to compete with the top sides. The team has a balanced lineup with experienced players like Kushal Bhurtel and Aasif Sheikh supporting the batting, while Sandeep Lamichhane leads the bowling attack with his world-class spin.
Italy’s campaign began on a challenging note against Scotland, with their captain Wayne Madsen leaving the field early due to injury. Despite the setback, Ben Manenti and Ali Hasan impressed with bat and ball, showing Italy has the potential to bounce back. The team will rely on contributions from Justin Mosca and Harry Manenti in the batting order, while Ali Hasan will be key with the ball to restrict Nepal’s scorers.
Key Players
Nepal: Dipendra Singh is expected to be the game-changer for Nepal. His 44 off 29 balls against England showed his ability to take on the bowlers and maintain a high strike rate of 140.36 in T20Is. Sandeep Lamichhane is the bowler to watch. His four-over spell in the previous match conceded just 25 runs while taking crucial wickets, and his variations are likely to trouble the Italian batters.
Italy: Ben Manenti impressed with the bat in the opening game and could play a major role again. Ali Hasan will be central to Italy’s bowling plans, especially against Nepal’s top-order batters. Captain Justin Mosca’s performance will also be crucial in leading the side both on and off the field.
Head-to-Head Record
This will be the first T20 International between Nepal and Italy. Both teams will be eager to make a strong impression, making this a historic fixture in T20 World Cup history.
Pitch Report
The Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai is expected to favor the batters in the afternoon fixture. Unlike the previous night game between India and the USA, swing bowlers are unlikely to get much assistance upfront. The pitch is expected to be true with predictable bounce, making stroke-making easier. Teams can anticipate a high-scoring encounter, and middle-over spinners may find limited assistance.
Probable Playing XIs
Nepal:
Kushal Bhurtel, Aasif Sheikh (WK), Rohit Paudel (C), Dipendra Singh, Aarif Sheikh, Lokesh Bam, Gulshan Jha, Karan KC, Nandan Yadav, Sandeep Lamichhane, Sher Malla
Italy:
Justin Mosca (C), Anthony Mosca, JJ Smuts, Zain Ali, Harry Manenti, Ben Manenti, Grant Stewart, Gian Meade (WK), Crishan Kalugamage, Thomas Draca, Ali Hasan
Probable Match Scenarios
Nepal will look to dominate early through aggressive batting at the top of the order and take advantage of the batting-friendly conditions. Lamichhane’s spin could provide crucial breakthroughs in the middle overs. Italy will rely on disciplined bowling from Ali Hasan and counter-attacking innings from Ben Manenti to stay competitive. The match could hinge on Nepal’s ability to rotate the strike efficiently and Italy’s response under pressure.
Live Streaming and Broadcast
India: JioStar Network Channels, JioHotstar (App & Website)
Pakistan: PTV Sports, Ten Sports, Geo Super
UK: Sky Sports Cricket, BBC iPlayer
Australia: Fox Cricket, Kayo Sports
Global: ICC Official App, ICC Website, YouTube Live (official ICC stream)
Match Prediction
Nepal enters this match as the more balanced and confident side after pushing England to the last ball. Italy has talent but needs consistent contributions from their top and middle order. On balance, Nepal is likely to secure a win, provided Dipendra Singh continues his form and Lamichhane controls the middle overs.
