In a significant match at Eden Gardens on February 9, 2026, Italy made its T20 World Cup debut against Scotland. The Azzurri won the toss and chose to bowl. However, attention soon turned to whether their captain could return to the game.
T20 World Cup 2026: Will Italy’s Wayne Mudsen bat against Scotland at Eden Gardens? Here’s the news
Tragically for Italy, captain Madsen has been ruled out for the rest of the match and will not bat. He suffered a serious shoulder dislocation while trying to stop a ball from George Munsey in the fourth over.
As Madsen sprinted in, he dived hard but landed heavily on his left shoulder. The crowd went quiet as he lay on the ground in pain, eventually being helped off with his arm in a towel sling.
Medical reports confirmed the dislocation, and commentators announced that he would not return. This is a significant setback for Italy as Madsen is not only crucial tactically but also their top batsman, leaving a significant gap in the lineup for their chase. The medical team is conducting X-rays to check for possible ligament damage, which could affect his entire World Cup journey and lead to a change in leadership for upcoming matches against Nepal and England.
T20 World Cup 2026: Scotland Dominates Italy in debut T20 World Cup 2026 clash
On the field, Italy faced challenges as Scotland took advantage of Madsen’s absence, scoring 207/4, marking the first 200-plus total of the tournament. George Munsey led the charge with a powerful 84 off 54 balls, forming a strong opening partnership with Michael Jones.
Even with a determined effort from Harry Manenti, who stepped in as captain, Scotland intensified their attack in the final overs. Michael Leask added fireworks, hitting two big sixes in a 22-run final over that took their score above 200.
Italy’s chase began poorly, with opener Justin Mosca out for a golden duck on the first ball bowled by Michael Leask. Currently, JJ Smuts and Anthony Mosca are trying to stabilize the innings, but without Madsen, the “Azzurri” have a tough task ahead to reach the 208-run target. The atmosphere at Eden Gardens is lively, yet there’s a sense of concern among Italian supporters as they face their historic first tournament without their main leader.
