The T20 World Cup 2026 moves to the iconic Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai as Nepal takes on Italy on February 12 (Thursday). The game has begun at 3:00 pm IST with Italy skipper Harry Manenti winning the toss and opting to field first.
Nepal, the “dark horses” of the tournament after their 4-run thriller against England, will be heavily backed by a passionate traveling fan base. For Italy, this match represents a massive opportunity to prove they belong on the world stage after their opening loss to Scotland.
Nepal vs Italy Playing 11
The Nepal team looked exceptionally sharp in their opener. They have made one change in their playing 11, bringing in Karan KC in place of Sher Malla. The opening pair of Kushal Bhurtel and Aasif Sheikh will look to provide a flyer, while the “star boy” Lokesh Bam and skipper Rohit Paudel anchor the middle. They are expected to field Karan KC and Nandan Yadav as the pace spearheads, with the world-renowned Sandeep Lamichhane leading the spin attack.
Nepal Playing 11: Kushal Bhurtel, Aasif Sheikh (w), Rohit Paudel (c), Dipendra Singh Airee, Aarif Sheikh, Lokesh Bam, Gulsan Jha, Karan KC, Nandan Yadav, Sandeep Lamichhane, Sompal Kami.
The Italy side, on the other hand, is sweating on the fitness side. Thomas Draca and Wayne Madsen miss this game and Jaspreet Singh and Marcus Campopiano come in their places respectively.
Italy Playing 11: Anthony Mosca, Justin Mosca, JJ Smuts, Harry Manenti(c), Ben Manenti, Marcus Campopiano, Grant Stewart, Gian Meade(w), Jaspreet Singh, Crishan Kalugamage, Ali Hasan.
Nepal vs Italy T20 World Cup 2026: Head to Head
| Format | Total Matches | Nepal Won | Italy Won | No Result |
| T20Is | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
NEP vs ITA T20 World Cup 2026 Pitch Report
The Wankhede Stadium wicket is a batter’s dream. With short boundaries and a lightning-fast outfield, scores in excess of 180 are the norm. The red soil provides good bounce for pacers, but batters generally find it easy to play through the line.
| Metric | Wankhede T20 Stats |
| Avg 1st Innings Score | 185 |
| Avg 2nd Innings Score | 172 |
| Win % Batting First | 46% |
| Win % Batting Second | 54% |
Nepal vs Italy T20 World Cup 2026 Weather Report
The weather in Mumbai is expected to be clear and pleasant, with no chance of rain. However, humidity will be a factor as the game moves into the evening, potentially bringing dew into play during the second innings.