• Match: Nepal vs Italy( NEP vs ITA ), 17th Match, ICC Mens T20 World Cup 2026
• Date and Time: February 12,  09:30 am GMT / 03:30 pm BD / 03:00 pm local time
• Venue: Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai

Nepal
Nepal

Nepal( NEP ) is set to face Italy( NEP ) in their 17th match during the ICC Mens T20 World Cup 2026. This match is scheduled to take place at Wankhede Stadium on Thursday, February 12.

Nepal can hold their heads high after pushing England to the brink in their tournament opener. Chasing 185, they needed just 8 runs from the final three balls and came heartbreakingly close before falling short by only 4 runs. It was a performance that showed how far this team has come on the global stage.

Kushal Bhurtel and captain Rohit Paudel laid the foundation of the chase. Bhurtel played with intent, scoring 29 off 17 balls, while Paudel added stability with a composed 39 from 34 deliveries. The key moment came when Paudel and Dipendra Singh Airee stitched together a crucial 82-run stand for the third wicket. Airee was brilliant, striking 44 off 29 balls at over 150 strike rate. With more than 2000 T20I runs and 60 wickets in 91 matches, he remains one of Nepal’s most valuable all-rounders.

Lower down the order, Lokesh Bam provided the late fireworks. Known for his aggressive style, he smashed 39 runs at a stunning strike rate of 195. However, the lack of support at the other end ultimately denied Nepal what could have been a historic win.

With the ball, Nepal also impressed. Dipendra Singh Airee and Nandan Yadav were the standout performers, picking up two wickets each and troubling England’s strong batting line-up. Sandeep Lamichhane, their mystery spinner, is always a threat on subcontinental pitches. Though he managed just one wicket in that match, his record of 130 wickets in 69 T20Is speaks for itself. Karan KC and Sompal Kami further strengthen the squad with their all-round abilities, giving Nepal solid balance in both departments.

Italy, meanwhile, endured a tough introduction to T20 World Cup cricket, losing by 73 runs to Scotland in their debut match. Chasing 208, they were bowled out for 134. JJ Smuts got off to a quick start with 22 off 11 balls, striking at 200. The Manenti brothers tried to steady the innings, with Ben Manenti scoring an impressive 52 off 31 and Harry Manenti contributing 37 from 25 balls.

However, the lower order couldn’t build on that platform. Grant Stewart, Gian-Piero Meade, and Crishan Kalugamage failed to make an impact, and the chase slipped away quickly.

On the bowling front, Ali Hasan, Thomas Draca, JJ Smuts, and Grant Stewart picked up a wicket each. Stewart had shown good rhythm before the tournament with six wickets in three games against Ireland, while Kalugamage has taken 11 wickets over the past year. The Italian attack has promise, but they will need sharper execution and better support from the batting unit to compete at this level.

Nepal: Aasif Sheikh (wk), Kushal Bhurtel, Rohit Paudel (c), Dipendra Singh Airee, Kushal Malla, Gulshan Jha, Aarif Sheikh, Sandeep Lamichhane, Lalit Rajbanshi, Karan KC, Sompal Kami.

Italy: Anthony Mosca, Justin Mosca, Marcus Campopiano, JJ Smuts, Wayne Madsen (C), Gian-Piero Meade (WK), Grant Stewart, Harry Manenti, Ben Manenti, Thomas Draca, Jaspreet Singh.

Nepal: W, W, W, W, L
Italy: L, L, L, W, L

We’re hoping the team wins the toss and chooses to bowl first.

The pitch at Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai is typically a batting-friendly surface that produces high-scoring matches, especially in T20 cricket. It offers true bounce and consistent pace, allowing batters to play through the line with confidence, while the short boundaries and quick outfield make boundary-hitting easier. Fast bowlers can get some early swing with the new ball thanks to the sea breeze, but this assistance is usually brief, and bowlers must rely on variations as the game goes on. Spinners may find limited help in the middle overs, though accuracy is more important than turn. In night games, dew often plays a major role, making bowling in the second innings tougher and giving chasing teams an advantage.

The weather at Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai on Thursday, February 12 at 3:00 PM local time is expected to be warm and mostly sunny, with partly cloudy skies at times. Temperatures should hover around 30–32 °C, accompanied by a light to moderate breeze, providing comfortable but warm conditions for play. Humidity will be moderate, around 40–50 %, and the chance of rain is very low, making it ideal for a full afternoon of cricket. Overall, conditions look stable and dry, allowing both teams to play without any weather interruptions.

• Wankhede offers a generally batting-friendly track with good bounce, especially in the afternoon.
• Powerplay overs are crucial for setting the tempo; a solid start can lift the total toward 170.
• Middle overs may see bowlers, especially spinners, getting some grip, so strike rotation and shot selection will be key.
• Teams batting second will need to pace their chase carefully, as the pitch can slow slightly later in the innings.
• Wickets in hand and smart acceleration in the last 4–5 overs will be decisive.
• Afternoon conditions are likely to be warm and dry, so dew will not be a significant factor, allowing bowlers to maintain control.