Nepal vs Italy, 17th Match, Group C, ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 takes place today, February 12, 2026, at 3:00 PM IST (10:30 PM PKT) at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. This clash pits two underdogs against each other in a must-win scenario for survival hopes.
Both Nepal and Italy sit on the fringes of Group C contention, trailing powerhouses like England and West Indies. A victory here keeps their slim Super 8 dreams alive, though realistically, it’s about pride and momentum before tougher fixtures. Nepal, after a gritty showing against England, needs to capitalize on home-like conditions, while Italy aims to build on their historic qualification.
Nepal enters with mixed vibes from the tournament opener, pushing England close but falling short—captain Rohit Paudel praised their fight post-match. Their 2024 World Cup exit without a win lingers, but recent qualifiers showed batting firepower, like Kushal Bhurtel’s explosive starts. Italy, making their debut, stunned with qualification over Jersey on net run rate and beat Ireland recently, but captain Wayne Madsen’s injury clouds their prep.
NEP vs ITA Match Details
- Match: Nepal vs. Italy, 17th Match
- Teams: NEP vs ITA
- Date: 12 Feb 2026
- Time: 02:30 PM
- Venue: Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.
T20 World 2026 Live Streaming Info
The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 kicks off on February 7, 2026, and wraps up with the final on March 8, 2026. Hosted across India and Sri Lanka with 20 teams, it spans about a month—group stages from early February, Super 8s mid-month, semis late February/early March, and the final in Colombo or Mumbai.
- In India, tune into Star Sports Network (Star Sports 1, Star Sports 2) or stream on Disney+ Hotstar and JioCinema.
- Pakistan viewers can watch on PTV Sports, A Sports, or Ten Sports, with streaming available on Tapmad and Tamasha.
- For Sri Lanka, options include SLRC, Channel Eye, and Siyatha TV on TV, plus Sri Lanka Cricket YouTube and Dialog ViU online.
- UK fans have Sky Sports Cricket, TNT Sports 1, and talkSPORT on television, alongside Sky Go, Discovery+, and NOW TV for streaming.
- In South Africa, SuperSport covers it on TV and via their app.
- Australia might check Fox Sports for TV and Kayo Sports for live streams.
- USA and Canada: Willow TV on TV, Sling TV or Willow HD app for streaming.
- New Zealand: Sky Sport NZ on TV and Sky Go app.
- Bangladesh: Gazi TV (GTV) and Rabith BD app.
- Afghanistan: RTA Sport and Ariana TV.
Rest of the world: ICC.tv for free streaming where no local rights holder exists. Subscriptions often apply, and VPNs can assist with geo-blocks where permitted.
How to Watch the Match for Free:
Catch every boundary without paying via these official free options, perfect for fans in Pakistan and beyond.
Pakistan: PTV Sports broadcasts all matches live for free on TV via terrestrial, cable, and satellite—no subscription needed.
Live Streaming Info:
The 17th T20 World Cup match will be live on Willow Cricket.
Live Score Info:
ICC T20 World Cup 2026: All matches on ESPN and Cricbuzz have live scores.
Probable XIs
Nepal Probable XI: Kushal Bhurtel, Aasif Sheikh (wk), Rohit Paudel (c), Dipendra Singh Airee, Aarif Sheikh, Lokesh Bam, Gulshan Jha, Karan KC, Nandan Yadav, Sher Malla, Sandeep Lamichhane
Italy Probable XI: Anthony Mosca, Justin Mosca, JJ Smuts, Wayne Madsen (c)/Marcus Campopiano, Harry Manenti, Ben Manenti, Grant Stewart, Gian-Piero Meade (wk), Marcus Campopiano, Crishan Kalugamage, Ali Hasan
Head-to-Head
This marks the first-ever T20I between Nepal and Italy—no prior meetings in any format at this level. Total matches: 0; Nepal wins: 0; Italy wins: 0. With no history, it’s a fresh slate, heightening unpredictability.
Pitch Report
Wankhede’s red-soil surface favors batsmen with true bounce and carry, averaging 199 runs in recent T20s—first two games saw 161 and 184 defended successfully. Spinners could grip in middle overs, but expect high scores if dew stays minimal in afternoon heat.
Weather Update
Clear skies dominate Mumbai today, with temperatures at 27-30°C, humidity over 50%, and light winds of 8-10 km/h—no rain threats for uninterrupted play.
Nepal Team Analysis
Nepal’s strength lies in all-round depth and spin variety, led by skipper Rohit Paudel (composed batter, tactician) and Dipendra Singh Airee (explosive hitter, off-spin). Sandeep Lamichhane’s leg-spin remains a wicket-taker, while openers Kushal Bhurtel and Aasif Sheikh provide quick starts. Weakness: fragile tail and pace beyond Sompal Kami. Recent momentum from tight England game boosts confidence.
Italy Team Analysis
Italy’s batting hinges on experience from South African-born Wayne Madsen (anchor, leader), though injury doubts shift burden to JJ Smuts (power-hitter) and all-rounder Grant Stewart. Emerging talents like Anthony Mosca and Harry Manenti add flair, with Crishan Kalugamage and Ali Hasan handling spin-pace mix. Weaknesses include inexperience against quality attacks and middle-order fragility. Their qualification heroics, including a win over Ireland, fuel underdog fire.
Key Talking Points
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Madsen’s fitness: Italy’s rock could miss out, forcing Campopiano up.
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Nepal’s venue edge: Familiarity from prior India games aids adaptation.
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Spin duel: Lamichhane vs Kalugamage on gripping Wankhede strip.
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Debut pressure: Italy’s first World Cup tests qualification hype.
Nepal holds the edge with deeper experience, stronger spin attack, and Wankhede know-how—expect them to chase down 170-180 in a tense finish. Italy’s fight could stretch it, but Paudel’s calm leadership tips the scales for a 6-wicket win. (Word count: 812