Overview:
At the Wankhede Stadium, the two teams will meet for the 1st time. WI have played 5 games here, winning four and losing one. Zimbabwe are playing for the 1st time here.
Zimbabwe and West Indies gear up for match number 44 of the ICC T20 World Cup 2026, starting February 23. This is a key Super 8 Group 1 contest. Zimbabwe and West Indies both topped their respective groups in the previous round and are pitted against each other in a crunch Group 1 clash in the Super 8s. This group also has India and South Africa.
South Africa stunned India by 76 runs in the group’s opener. And now, the winner between Zimbabwe and the West Indies will gain two vital points in the race for the semis.
Zimbabwe and the West Indies are both unbeaten in the tournament. Zimbabwe won three matches in their group stage, with a match against Ireland getting abandoned due to rain. Notably, they beat both Australia and Sri Lanka. West Indies played well against Scotland, England, Nepal and Italy.
The Windies come into this game with some advantage. They have already played a couple of games in Mumbai in this edition. On the other hand, Zimbabwe haven’t played here. Their matches were all in Sri Lanka before this.
West Indies T20I squad: Brandon King, Shai Hope (w/c), Shimron Hetmyer, Rovman Powell, Sherfane Rutherford, Romario Shepherd, Matthew Forde, Jason Holder, Akeal Hosein, Gudakesh Motie, Shamar Joseph, Johnson Charles, Roston Chase, Quentin Sampson, Jayden Seales.
Zimbabwe T20I squad: Sikandar Raza (c), Brian Bennett, Ryan Burl, Graeme Cremer, Bradley Evans, Clive Madande, Tinotenda Maposa, Tadiwanashe Marumani, Wellington Masakadza, Tony Munyonga, Tashinga Musekiwa, Blessing Muzarabani, Dion Myers, Richard Ngarava, Brendan Taylor.
What is the H2H record between Zimbabwe and the West Indies?
Zimbabwe and the West Indies meet for the 5th time in T20Is. From 4 meetings so far, the latter owns a 3-1 win-loss record. At the T20 World Cup, it’s 1-0 for the Windies.
Probable XI of both teams
Zimbabwe probable XI for the match against WI: Brian Bennett, Tadiwanashe Marumani (w), Ryan Burl, Sikandar Raza (c), Dion Myers, Tony Munyonga, Tashinga Musekiwa, Wellington Masakadza, Brad Evans, Richard Ngarava, Blessing Muzarabani.
WI probable XI for the match versus Zimbabwe: Brandon King, Shai Hope(w/c), Shimron Hetmyer, Roston Chase, Sherfane Rutherford, Rovman Powell, Jason Holder, Romario Shepherd, Akeal Hosein, Gudakesh Motie, Shamar Joseph.
Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai, & Key Details of the Stadium
The Wankhede Stadium is located in Mumbai. It was established in 1974 and has a capacity of 32,000 people. The first Test was played here in 1975, before the 1st ODI happened in 1987. The first T20I was held here in 2012.
What is the Pitch like at the Wankhede Stadium?
The Wankhede pitch is traditionally a batter’s paradise, with true bounce and the ball coming sweetly onto the bat. Fast bowlers may find some swing and seam with the new ball, but conditions generally ease as the innings wear on. Short boundaries and a flat surface could boost the confidence of both West Indies and Zimbabwe batters against each other’s pace attack. At the same time, it’s a venue made for the power-hitters to cut loose, pile on a big total. Zimbabwe will hope to get a grip, having played in Sri Lanka thus far.
Key Stats & Records at the Wankhede Stadium
A total of 15 T20Is have been held here. West Indies have played 5 times here, winning four and losing one. Notably, Zimbabwe are playing their 1st T20I here at this venue.
India own the two highest team totals here at this venue, scoring 247/9 versus England in 2025 and 240/3 versus West Indies in 2019. WI’s best score here is 196/3 versus India in 2016.
WI’s lowest total here is 173/8 versus India in 2019.
Former T20I stars Virat Kohli (197) and Rohit Sharma (165) own the most runs here. Sandwiched between them is Nepal’s DS Airee, who has 169 runs. For WI, Shimron Hetmyer has 110 runs at 55.
Among bowlers, Mohammed Shami, Adil Rashid, NK Yadav and Kyle Abbott own the joint-most scalps at Wankhede Stadium. They have 5 scalps each. Jason. Holder has 4 scalps here from three outings.
ZIM vs WI: Weather Forecast – Will Rain Play a Role?
The weather conditions on match day look ideal for cricket. According to AccuWeather, no rain interruptions are forecast for the 7 pm IST start at the Wankhede Stadium. Temperatures are expected to range between 25 and 29 degrees Celsius. Humidity levels are likely to hover slightly above 60 percent, which could test player endurance.
ZIM vs WI: Pitch Advantage for Which Side?
All things considered, the West Indies will be the outright favourites, and one expects them to stamp their authority on Zimbabwe. Notably, as mentioned, Zimbabwe haven’t played here or in India in the ongoing tournament. So they won’t have an edge. Also, night games will be another test for Sikandar Raza and Co.
FAQs – Pitch Report for Wankhede Stadium
What is the pitch report for Wankhede Stadium?
The Wankhede pitch is traditionally a batter’s paradise, with true bounce and the ball coming sweetly onto the bat. Fast bowlers may find some swing and seam with the new ball, but conditions generally ease as the innings wear on. Short boundaries and a flat surface could boost the confidence of both West Indies and Zimbabwe batters against each other’s pace attack. At the same time, it’s a venue made for the power-hitters to cut loose, pile on a big total. Zimbabwe will hope to get a grip, having played in Sri Lanka thus far.
What is Zimbabwe and the West Indies’ record at the Wankhede Stadium?
At the Wankhede Stadium, the two teams will meet for the 1st time. WI have played 5 games here, winning four and losing one. Zimbabwe are playing for the 1st time here.