West Indies vs Italy 37th Match Preview is here – the perfect curtain-closer for Group C in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026. On Thursday, 19 February 2026, two-time champions West Indies aim to sign off unbeaten before heading to Super 8s in Mumbai. Italy, the brave debutants, want one last memorable moment before flying home.
You can feel the excitement in Kolkata already. Eden Gardens will host this 11:00 AM IST clash (5:30 AM GMT). Whether you are a maroon fan celebrating Caribbean flair or an azzurro supporter proud of Italy’s fighting spirit, this West Indies vs Italy 37th Match Preview gives you everything – simple stats in tables, player stories, pitch secrets, and honest predictions. No complicated words, just pure cricket passion for every fan.
Match Details & How to Watch West Indies vs Italy 37th Match Preview
Date: Thursday, 19 February 2026
Time: 11:00 AM Local (IST) / 5:30 AM GMT
Venue: Eden Gardens, Kolkata
Capacity: 63,000 (can feel like 80,000 when full!)
Ends: High Court End, Pavilion End
Series: ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 – Group C, 37th Match
This is a dead rubber for qualification, but pride is huge. West Indies sit top of Group C with 6 points and NRR +1.820. Italy have 2 points from one win and two losses. Yet Italy’s 10-wicket thrashing of Nepal showed they belong.
Broadcast Guide (India)
- TV: Star Sports Network (Star Sports 1, 2, Hindi & English)
- Streaming: JioHotstar / JioCinema (free for India users)
- International: ICC.tv, Sky Sports (UK), ESPN+ (USA) – check local listings
Ticket Tips for Fans
Gates open around 8-9 AM. Tickets via BookMyShow or official cricketworldcup.com. Entry tickets start at ₹100 – yes, really! Premium Pavilion seats higher. Last-minute releases possible even for this “dead” rubber because West Indies always bring party vibes.
Quick Watch-Party Tip
Caribbean fans – wake up early for rum and roti! Italian fans – grab espresso and cheer loud for the underdogs. This West Indies vs Italy T20 World Cup 2026 clash promises fireworks on a high-scoring ground.
Table 1: Match Timings at a Glance
| Time Zone | Start Time |
|---|---|
| IST (India) | 11:00 AM |
| GMT | 5:30 AM |
| EST (USA) | 12:30 AM |
| AEDT (Aus) | 4:30 PM |
Toss at 10:30 AM IST – expect teams to bat first on this batting beauty.
Eden Gardens Venue Guide & Records – West Indies vs Italy 37th Match Preview
Eden Gardens is cricket heaven. Built in 1864, this 63,000-seat stadium has seen legends like Sachin, Lara, and Kohli light it up. Home to Bengal and Kolkata Knight Riders, the crowd creates noise that pushes players to their best.
In T20 World Cup 2026 so far, Eden Gardens has been a run-fest. Two 200+ totals already. Outfield is lightning fast. Square boundaries short – perfect for six-hitters like Hetmyer and Rutherford.
Table 2: Eden Gardens T20 World Cup 2026 Stats
| Stat | Value |
|---|---|
| Matches played | 4 |
| Avg 1st innings score | 181 |
| Highest total | 207/4 (Scotland) |
| Lowest total | 134 (Italy vs Scotland) |
| Wins batting first | 2 |
| Wins chasing | 2 |
| 200+ totals | 2 |
Historical T20I record at venue (17 matches):
- Batting first wins: 8
- Chasing wins: 9
- Highest successful chase: 162/4 (India vs West Indies, 2022)
Memorable moments fans still talk about:
- Scotland’s 207/4 hammering Italy by 73 runs earlier this tournament.
- England posting 202/7 to beat Italy by 24 runs.
- West Indies defending 182 vs Scotland comfortably.
The atmosphere? Electric. Kolkata knows how to celebrate big cricket. For West Indies vs Italy 37th Match Preview, expect full house cheering every boundary. This historic ground will host West Indies again in Super 8s on March 1 vs India – perfect preparation!
Transitioning from venue magic, let’s talk conditions that will decide the game.
Eden Gardens Pitch Report, Weather Forecast & Dew Factor – WI vs ITA 37th Match Preview
Eden Gardens pitch uses black cotton soil – firm, true, with good bounce. In morning 11 AM start, expect slight seam movement for first 6-8 overs. Then it flattens into a batting paradise. Short square boundaries help big hitters.
Table 3: Pitch Behaviour Breakdown
| Phase | What to Expect | Favours |
|---|---|---|
| Powerplay | Good bounce, slight seam | Pacers |
| Middle overs | True bounce, easy timing | Batters |
| Death overs | Slight grip for spinners | Spinners |
2026 T20 World Cup trend here: High scores. Par score first innings: 175-190. Teams batting first have defended totals well.
Kolkata Weather on 19 Feb 2026
- Temperature: 28-32°C (warm but pleasant)
- Humidity: 60-80% (muggier afternoon)
- Rain chance: 0-10% (almost zero)
- Wind: Light 5-10 km/h
- Conditions: Partly cloudy morning, sunny later
No dew in daytime match – big plus for chasing side? Not really, because pitch stays true. Early cloud cover may help seamers like Shamar Joseph and Jason Holder.
Experts say: Bat first, post 180+, defend with spin in middle overs. This West Indies vs Italy T20 World Cup 2026 clash will be high-scoring entertainment.
For more stats ESPNcricinfo.
West Indies Team Preview & Probable Playing XI – 37th Match Guide
West Indies have been near-perfect in Group C. Wins over Scotland (35 runs), England (30 runs), Nepal (9 wickets). Different heroes every game – classic Caribbean depth.
Strengths
- Explosive batting from top to bottom
- All-round balance (Holder, Shepherd, Chase)
- Varied bowling – pace, spin, swing
Weaknesses
- Spinners yet to take many wickets
- Occasional middle-order hiccup
Shai Hope leads calmly as captain and keeper. Shimron Hetmyer (366 runs in recent 9 T20Is, SR 177+) destroys middle overs. Brandon King sets aggressive tone. Sherfane Rutherford and Rovman Powell add power. Jason Holder (8 wickets, economical) and Romario Shepherd (expected return from niggle) handle death.
Spinners Akeal Hosein and Gudakesh Motie control middle. Young Shamar Joseph brings express pace.
Table 4: West Indies Probable XI (with reasoning)
| Position | Player | Role & Reason | Recent Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brandon King | Opener – aggressive starts | Consistent in WC |
| 2 | Shai Hope (c & wk) | Anchor + captain | Half-centuries |
| 3 | Shimron Hetmyer | Middle-order destroyer | 366 runs, SR 177+ |
| 4 | Roston Chase | All-round spin option | Useful contributions |
| 5 | Sherfane Rutherford | Power-hitter | Half-century vs England |
| 6 | Rovman Powell / Q. Sampson | Finisher / cleanest hitter chance | Sampson to get WC exposure |
| 7 | Jason Holder | Seam all-rounder, death specialist | 8 wickets |
| 8 | Romario Shepherd | Pace all-rounder (if fit) | 5-for earlier |
| 9 | Akeal Hosein | Left-arm spin control | Economical |
| 10 | Gudakesh Motie | Left-arm wrist spin | Economy under 8 |
| 11 | Shamar Joseph | Express pace | Wicket-taker |
Matthew Forde may make way if Shepherd returns. Quentin Sampson – called “cleanest hitter” by Hope – could debut against weaker attack for Super 8 prep. West Indies batting coach Floyd Reifer said: “Different individuals put their hands up… sign of a very good batting unit.”
Caribbean flair will light up Eden Gardens. Expect 190+ if they bat first.
Italy Team Preview & Probable Playing XI – Historic Debut Campaign
Italy’s maiden T20 World Cup journey ends here, but what a ride! 10-wicket win over Nepal was historic. They pushed England and Scotland too. Pride on the line for one final big story.
Strengths
- Resilient top order (Mosca brothers)
- Explosive Ben Manenti (SR 200)
- All-round depth with Grant Stewart
Weaknesses
- Inexperience vs world-class pace
- Skipper Wayne Madsen injured (missed last two games)
Harry Manenti captains in Madsen’s absence. Justin Mosca (272 runs recent 10 matches, SR 150+) and brother Anthony (238 runs, SR 148+) open solidly. JJ Smuts adds experience. Ben Manenti’s two fifties at SR 200 thrill fans. Grant Stewart – born in Australia, plays for Kent – learned Italian, scored 45 vs England taking down Rashid.
Crishan Kalugamage leads wickets (14 in recent 10 games). Jaspreet Singh and Ali Hasan bowl pace.
Table 5: Italy Probable XI
| Position | Player | Role | Key Stat |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Justin Mosca | Opener | 272 runs, SR 150+ |
| 2 | Anthony Mosca | Opener | 238 runs, SR 148+ |
| 3 | JJ Smuts | Experienced all-rounder | Steady |
| 4 | Harry Manenti (c) | All-rounder, captain | Leadership |
| 5 | Ben Manenti | Explosive middle | SR 200, two 50s |
| 6 | Grant Stewart | All-rounder | 45 vs England |
| 7 | Marcus Campopiano | Middle-order | Support |
| 8 | Gian-Piero Meade (wk) | Keeper-batter | Reliable |
| 9 | Jaspreet Singh | Pace | – |
| 10 | Crishan Kalugamage | Leading wicket-taker | 14 wkts, econ 7.34 |
| 11 | Ali Hasan | Pace | – |
Head coach John Davison: “We’re very proud… determined to do well in our final game.” Italy will play “head on” against stronger opponents. Respect to these debutants – they made history.
Players to Watch – West Indies vs Italy 37th Match Preview
West Indies Stars
Shimron Hetmyer – middle-order king. 366 runs recent, SR 177+. Watch him clear ropes.
Brandon King – sets platform with clean striking.
Jason Holder – 8 wickets, controls death. Economy matters on flat track.
Quentin Sampson – possible chance. Captain calls him “cleanest hitter”. Big stage debut could boost confidence for Super 8s.
Italy Heroes
Grant Stewart – serious about Italy (even language lessons!). 45 vs England showed class.
Ben Manenti – SR 200, two fifties. Australia-born but plays for Italy with heart.
Mosca brothers – solid openers, 500+ combined runs recent.
Crishan Kalugamage – 14 wickets, economy 7.34. Will trouble WI middle.
Don’t miss these battles – they will make this West Indies vs Italy 37th Match Preview special.
Table 6: Top Batters Recent Form (Last 10 T20Is)
| Player | Team | Runs | Avg | SR |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shimron Hetmyer | WI | 366 | 52.29 | 177.66 |
| Justin Mosca | ITA | 272 | 34 | 150.27 |
| Anthony Mosca | ITA | 238 | 39.67 | 148.75 |
Table 7: Top Bowlers Recent Form
| Player | Team | Wkts | Econ | SR |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crishan Kalugamage | ITA | 14 | 7.34 | 15 |
| Jason Holder | WI | 8 | 10.74 | 15.5 |
| Grant Stewart | ITA | 10 | 8.19 | 20.8 |
Recent Form, Head-to-Head & Big Picture – WI vs ITA Preview
Table 8: Recent Form (Last 5 completed matches, most recent first)
| Team | Form | Results |
|---|---|---|
| West Indies | WWWWL | W vs Nepal, W vs England, W vs Scotland… |
| Italy | LWLWL | L vs England, W vs Nepal, L vs Scotland… |
No previous T20I meetings – first-ever clash.
Big picture: West Indies flawless in group (different Player of Match each game). Momentum perfect for Super 8s vs Zimbabwe, South Africa, India. Italy take home pride – 10-wicket Nepal win, competitive shows vs big teams. Wayne Madsen missed games but proud of progress.
Floyd Reifer (WI batting coach): “Sign of a very good batting unit.”
John Davison (Italy coach): “We don’t want to rest on our laurels.”
Tactical Breakdown & Key Battles – West Indies vs Italy 37th Match
- Mosca brothers vs WI new ball (Joseph/Forde/Shepherd) – early breakthroughs key.
- Hetmyer vs Italy spinners (Kalugamage/Smuts) – middle-over explosion expected.
- Grant Stewart vs Jason Holder – all-rounder battle at death.
- Powerplay plans – WI aggressive, Italy build then accelerate.
- Spin in middle – Hosein/Motie vs Ben Manenti/Stewart.
- Death overs – Holder/Shepherd vs Italy lower order.
On high-scoring Eden pitch, West Indies all-round depth gives edge. Italy need special day – perhaps Stewart all-round show.
Table 9: Key Match-Ups
| Battle | Advantage | Why? |
|---|---|---|
| Openers vs Pace | WI | Express pace |
| Hetmyer vs Spin | WI | SR 177+ |
| Stewart vs Holder | Even | Both experienced all-rounders |
West Indies vs Italy Winning Prediction & Expert Analysis
West Indies heavy favourites – 85-90% chance. Likely win by 40-60 runs or 7-8 wickets. Expect WI to post 190-210, restrict Italy to 150-170.
Why WI win: Form, depth, experience, batting firepower on flat track. Italy can upset if Mosca brothers fly and Stewart stars – but unlikely.
This game perfect Super 8 prep for West Indies. Italy finish campaign with head high.
Most likely Player of Match: West Indies batter (Hetmyer or King) or Holder.
Final Thoughts – West Indies vs Italy 37th Match Preview Guide
West Indies vs Italy 37th Match Preview ends with excitement for tomorrow’s 11 AM clash. West Indies chase perfect group record. Italy chase one more giant-killing memory.
Both teams showed class – WI with complete performances, Italy with heart on debut. Eden Gardens will roar. High-scoring, entertaining cricket guaranteed.
Whether you back maroon or azzurro, enjoy every ball. Share your score predictions below – who scores most runs? Who takes most wickets?
Thank you for reading this ultimate West Indies vs Italy 37th Match Preview on IPL Star. Cricket unites us all. See you after the match for Super 8 updates!
Ready for the game? 🏏 Let’s celebrate cricket!
FAQs – West Indies vs Italy 37th Match Preview
1. When is the West Indies vs Italy 37th Match Preview in ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026? The West Indies vs Italy 37th Match is on Thursday, 19 February 2026, at 11:00 AM IST (5:30 AM GMT) at Eden Gardens, Kolkata. West Indies chase a perfect Group C record while Italy, in their debut T20 World Cup, hunt one final giant-killing moment.
2. What is the Eden Gardens pitch report 2026 for the West Indies vs Italy 37th Match Preview? The Eden Gardens pitch report 2026 shows a high-scoring black-soil surface with early seam movement, flattening into a batting paradise. Expect 175-200 par score with short square boundaries favouring power-hitters like Hetmyer and Ben Manenti.
3. Will Shai Hope West Indies maintain the WI unbeaten streak Group C? Yes, Shai Hope West Indies are heavy favourites to extend the WI unbeaten streak Group C (3 wins from 3). With NRR +1.820 and different heroes every game, West Indies are expected to sign off with a 40-60 run or 7-8 wicket victory.
4. Who are the key players in Italy debut T20 World Cup for the West Indies vs Italy 37th Match Preview? Italy debut T20 World Cup stars include the Mosca brothers (500+ combined runs), Ben Manenti (SR 200), Grant Stewart Italy (45 vs England) and Crishan Kalugamage (14 wickets). They will fight hard against the Caribbean flair.
5. What is the Kolkata weather forecast February 19 2026 for West Indies vs Italy T20 World Cup 2026? Kolkata weather forecast February 19 2026: 28-32°C, 60-80% humidity, 0-10% rain chance, light winds. Partly cloudy morning turns sunny – perfect for a high-scoring day match with minimal dew impact.
6. What is the probable playing XI for West Indies in the West Indies vs Italy 37th Match Preview? West Indies probable XI: Brandon King, Shai Hope (c & wk), Shimron Hetmyer, Roston Chase, Sherfane Rutherford, Rovman Powell/Quentin Sampson, Jason Holder, Romario Shepherd, Akeal Hosein, Gudakesh Motie, Shamar Joseph. Shepherd returns from niggle.
7. How to watch West Indies vs Italy T20 World Cup 2026 live streaming in India? Watch West Indies vs Italy T20 World Cup 2026 live on Star Sports TV and free JioHotstar / JioCinema. International viewers use ICC.tv, Sky Sports or ESPN+. Toss at 10:30 AM IST.
8. Why is Grant Stewart Italy a player to watch in West Indies vs Italy 37th Match Preview? Grant Stewart Italy has shown serious commitment (learning Italian + 45 vs England). His all-round skills make him Italy’s best chance of a special performance against Jason Holder and West Indies pace attack.
9. Can Italy cause an upset against West Indies in the 37th Match Preview? Italy have a slim chance of upset in the West Indies vs Italy 37th Match Preview if Mosca openers and Ben Manenti fire, but West Indies’ depth and experience on a flat Eden Gardens pitch make them 85-90% favourites.
10. What is the prediction and key stats for WI unbeaten streak Group C in this match? Prediction: West Indies win by 40-60 runs. Key stats – WI average 181+ at Eden Gardens 2026, three different Player of the Match awards, Italy’s only win was 10-wicket thrashing of Nepal. Perfect Super 8 prep for WI.