Overview:
Nepal will be looking to recover from their narrow defeat to England and secure their first win of the tournament.
Nepal will face Italy in the 17th match of the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, starting at 3:00 PM.
Nepal is eager to bounce back from their tight loss to England and bag their first win of the tournament. This Group C fixture at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai is a must-win for Rohit Paudel’s men to stay in the hunt for a Super 8s spot.
Italy’s first-ever T20 World Cup appearance came against Scotland on February 9, and while they suffered defeat, they showed plenty of fight at Eden Gardens in Kolkata. Unfortunately, skipper Wayne Madsen sustained a shoulder injury during a practice session, leaving his status for the rest of the tournament uncertain. Harry Manenti is expected to take over the leadership duties in Madsen’s absence.
NEP vs ITA Match Details
| Fixture | NEP vs ITA: 17th Match,T20 World Cup 2026 |
| Date | February 12th, 2026 (Thursday) |
| Time | 3:00 PM IST |
| Toss time | 2:30 PM IST |
| Ground | Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai |
NEP vs ITA head-to-head records in T20I
This marks the first-ever T20I clash between Nepal and Italy.
Pitch Report
The opening contest at Wankhede Stadium between India and the USA took place under the night sky, where the swing bowlers enjoyed some early assistance. With this next game scheduled for the afternoon, bowlers might find the going tougher in the middle overs, setting up an exciting, high-scoring encounter on Thursday.
NEP vs ITA Probable Best Performers
Key batter to watch out for: Dipendra Singh
Dipendra Singh was in solid form during Nepal’s clash with England, scoring a quickfire 44 off 29 balls, including six boundaries and a six. His aggressive approach, reflected in his T20I strike rate of 140.36, makes him a dangerous player. He’ll be crucial for Nepal’s performance on Thursday.
Key bowler to watch out for: Sandeep Lamichhane
Sandeep Lamichhane was in brilliant form last time out, taking Tom Banton’s wicket while conceding a mere 25 runs in his four-over spell. With Italian batters unlikely to have faced such quality spin, Lamichhane will be the bowler to keep an eye on in the upcoming clash.
NEP vs ITA Match Prediction ICC T20 World Cup 2026
Nepal will be looking to recover from their narrow defeat to England and secure their first win of the tournament. With solid all-round strength, they are the favorites for this match. Italy, though coming off a loss, will be determined to put up a strong fight. If they can build partnerships and apply pressure, it could turn into a competitive contest. However, Nepal’s experience and depth should give them the edge to come out on top in this crucial Group C encounter.
NEP vs ITA Probable XIs
Nepal: Kushal Bhurtel, Rohit Paudel (C), Aasif Sheikh (WK), Lokesh Bam, Dipendra Singh, Aarif Sheikh, Nandan Yadav, Gulshan Jha, Karan KC, Sandeep Lamichhane, Sher Malla.
Italy: Justin Mosca, Zain Ali, Anthony Mosca, JJ Smuts, Grant Stewart, Harry Manenti, Ben Manenti, Gian Meade (WK), Thomas Draca, Crishan Kalugamage, Ali Hasan.

