Nepal will face Italy in Match 17 of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. Both teams enter this Group C contest after defeats in their opening matches and need a win to stay competitive in the standings.
Nepal pushed England close in a narrow four-run loss, showing they can compete against higher-ranked opposition. Italy, meanwhile, suffered a heavy defeat to Scotland and will look to improve their net run rate after falling to -3.650.
With Mumbai’s batting-friendly conditions and spin likely to play a role in the middle overs, this encounter could significantly impact the Group C points table.
NEP vs ITA Match Details – ICC T20 World Cup 2026
A crucial Group C fixture where both sides aim to secure their first points of the tournament.
| Match | NEP vs ITA – Match 17, Group C |
|---|---|
| Tournament | ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 |
| Date | 12 February 2026 |
| Time | 3:00 PM Local, 9:30 AM GMT |
| Venue | Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai |
| Capacity | 33,000 |
| TV (India) | Star Sports Network |
| Streaming (India) | JioHotstar |
Nepal vs Italy Pitch Report – Wankhede Stadium Conditions
Wankhede Stadium traditionally offers a good batting surface with true bounce and short square boundaries. Afternoon games here tend to favour aggressive strokeplay, especially in the powerplay.
Spinners can extract grip during middle overs, but overall, teams crossing 170 often remain in control of the contest. Captains generally prefer chasing due to the consistent surface and fast outfield.
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Surface | Batting-friendly |
| Average 1st Innings Score | 165–175 |
| Boundary Size | Short square boundaries |
| Spin Assistance | Grip in the middle overs |
| Toss Trend | Preference for chasing |
Nepal vs Italy Weather Report – Mumbai Conditions
Clear and sunny weather is forecast for the match day in Mumbai. No rain interruptions are expected, ensuring a full 40-over contest.
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Temperature | Around 30°C |
| Weather | Sunny |
| Rain Probability | 0% |
| Humidity | 46% |
| Wind | 18 km/h |
The warm afternoon conditions may test player endurance, particularly for bowlers during long spells.
Nepal vs Italy Head-to-Head Record in T20Is
Nepal and Italy have never faced each other in a T20 International. This will be their first-ever meeting in this format.
Nepal vs Italy Points Table Situation – Group C
Both teams have yet to open their tournament accounts.
| Team | Matches | Wins | Losses | Points | NRR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nepal | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | -0.200 |
| Italy | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | -3.650 |
Nepal’s net run rate remains manageable, while Italy requires a strong performance to recover from its heavy opening loss.
NEP vs ITA – Top Performers (Recent T20 Form)
Recent form highlights key players who could influence the match.
| Player | Team | Recent Performance Overview |
|---|---|---|
| Kushal Bhurtel | Nepal | 283 runs in last 10 matches; aggressive opener who sets tempo early. |
| Aasif Sheikh | Nepal | 273 runs in last 9 matches; consistent top-order presence with 34.13 average. |
| Sandeep Lamichhane | Nepal | 13 wickets in 7 matches; economy 5.32; crucial middle-overs bowler. |
| Justin Mosca | Italy | 221 runs in 10 matches; strike rate 158.99; main attacking option. |
| Anthony Mosca | Italy | 206 runs; average 41.2; stabilising middle-order batter. |
| Harry Manenti | Italy | 11 wickets; strike rate 13.63; effective all-round contributor. |
Lamichhane’s control on Mumbai surfaces could be decisive, while Italy will rely on Justin Mosca’s strike rate to gain early momentum.
Nepal vs Italy Squad 2026 – Full Team List
1. Nepal Squad
Rohit Paudel (c), Aarif Sheikh, Aasif Sheikh (wk), Dipendra Singh Airee, Basir Ahamad, Kushal Bhurtel, Gulsan Jha, Sundeep Jora, Karan KC, Sandeep Lamichhane, Lokesh Bam, Sher Malla, Lalit Rajbanshi, Sompal Kami, Nandan Yadav
2. Italy Squad
Wayne Madsen (c), Ali Hasan, Marcus Campopiano, Thomas Draca, Jaspreet Singh, Crishan Kalugamage, Harry Manenti, Ben Manenti, Gian-Piero Meade (wk), Anthony Mosca, Justin Mosca, JJ Smuts, Grant Stewart, Syed Naqvi, Zain Ali
Nepal vs Italy Free Live Streaming & TV Channels List
Official ICC broadcast partners by region:
| Region | TV Broadcast | Live Streaming |
|---|---|---|
| India | Star Sports | JioHotstar |
| Pakistan | PTV Sports | Tamasha / ARY Zapp |
| Sri Lanka | Dialog TV | Dialog Play |
| UK & Ireland | Sky Sports | NOW |
| Australia | — | Prime Video |
| New Zealand | Sky Sport NZ | Sky Go |
| USA & Canada | Willow TV | Willow App |
| Sub-Saharan Africa | SuperSport | SuperSport App |
| Bangladesh | T Sports | Rabbithole |
| Middle East & North Africa | CricLife Max | StarzPlay |
| Caribbean | ESPN | ESPN App |
| Rest of World | — | ICC.tv |
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Conclusion: Nepal vs Italy Match Preview
Nepal enters this match with a stronger recent form and familiarity with subcontinent conditions, giving them a slight edge on paper. Italy will need improved top-order contributions and disciplined bowling to stay competitive.
If Nepal crosses the 165–170 mark or controls the middle overs through Lamichhane, they could take command. However, Wankhede’s batting-friendly surface ensures that early momentum will be crucial in this Group C encounter.
