The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 begins with a key Group C match where two-time champions, West Indies, face off against Scotland at Eden Gardens. This match is crucial for the West Indies as they aim to prove themselves as T20 leaders again, especially at the venue where they claimed their second title in 2016. Scotland joins the tournament as a last-minute substitute for Bangladesh, giving them a chance to repeat their famous win against the West Indies from 2022.
Match Details
- Date and Time: February 7 (Saturday); 3:00 pm IST / 9:30 am GMT
- Venue: Eden Gardens, Kolkata
Head-to-Head Record (T20Is):
Matches played: 1 | Scotland won: 1 | West Indies won: 0
Eden Gardens Pitch Report
Eden Gardens is famous for its quick outfield and a pitch that typically supports aggressive batting. The surface is made with black cotton soil, providing consistent bounce and speed early in the match. As the game progresses, the pitch may slow down, giving quality spinners like Gudakesh Motie and Mark Watt a chance to shine. Historically, the team chasing has an edge here, winning 8 out of 13 T20Is, largely due to the evening dew making it tough for bowlers. The winning captain at the toss will likely prefer to bowl first.
Team Dynamics and Key Players
West Indies: Under captain Shai Hope, the West Indies feature a squad of renowned T20 players. Despite some recent losses, including a series against South Africa and a warm-up match against Afghanistan, their explosive batting remains a key asset. The middle order, led by Shimron Hetmyer and Rovman Powell, will be pivotal, while Shamar Joseph adds depth to their bowling. Their approach will focus on exploiting the Powerplay and leveraging their deep batting lineup against Scotland’s bowling attack.
Scotland: Guided by the experienced Richie Berrington, Scotland emphasizes tactical play. Although they lost warm-up games to Afghanistan and Namibia, they come into this game with a mindset of ‘nothing to lose.’ George Munsey is a key player at the top of the order, and Brandon McMullen has shown his capability against strong opponents. Scotland will rely on left-arm spinner Mark Watt to manage the West Indies’ powerful batting on the expansive Kolkata boundaries.
Squads:
West Indies: Shai Hope (captain), Shimron Hetmyer, Johnson Charles, Roston Chase, Matthew Forde, Jason Holder, Akeal Hosein, Shamar Joseph, Brandon King, Gudakesh Motie, Rovman Powell, Sherfane Rutherford, Quentin Sampson, Jayden Seales, Romario Shepherd
Scotland: Richie Berrington (captain), Tom Bruce, Matthew Cross, Bradley Currie, Oliver Davidson, Chris Greaves, Zainullah Ihsan, Michael Jones, Michael Leask, Finlay McCreath, Brandon McMullen, George Munsey, Safyaan Sharif, Mark Watt, Bradley Wheal. (Reserves: Jasper Davidson, Jack Jarvis. Non-travelling reserves: Mackenzie Jones, Chris McBride, Charlie Tear)
Todays’ Match Prediction
Case 1:
- West Indies wins the toss and bowls first
- Scotland powerplay score: 40-45 (6 overs)
- Scotland total score: 145-160
Case 2:
- Scotland wins the toss and bowls first
- West Indies powerplay score: 55-65 (6 overs)
- West Indies total score: 185-200
Match result: West Indies are favored to win.
