The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 continues in Colombo with a match between the 2021 champions, Australia, and Zimbabwe at the R. Premadasa Stadium. Australia comes into this match confident after a 67-run win against Ireland, even without their regular captain Mitchell Marsh, who is injured. Zimbabwe, captained by Sikandar Raza, also had a good start, defeating Oman by eight wickets. Both teams are aiming for the top position in Group B, making this match crucial on a pitch that has a history of challenging even the best teams.
AUS vs ZIM, T20 World Cup 2026: Match Details
- Date and Time: February 13 (Friday); 11:00 am IST / 5:30 am GMT / 4:30 pm AEDT
- Venue: R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo, Sri Lanka
AUS vs ZIM, Head-to-Head Record in T20Is
Matches played: 3 | Australia won: 2 | Zimbabwe won: 1
R. Premadasa Stadium Pitch Report
The R. Premadasa Stadium is a well-known venue in Sri Lanka, recognized for its spin-friendly pitches. The surface is usually slow, making it challenging for heavy hitters as the ball softens. The average score in the first innings is around 145-155, but Australia demonstrated in their last match that scores over 180 are possible with smart batting. As this match takes place during the day, dew won’t be an issue, but the high humidity in Colombo may impact fielding. Historically, teams batting first tend to benefit from the pitch, as it offers more grip for spin bowlers like Adam Zampa and Sikandar Raza in the second half of the game.
Team Dynamics and Key Players
Australia: Captain Mitchell Marsh is out due to health reasons. Travis Head is leading the team in his absence and helped secure a solid win against Ireland. Batters Josh Inglis and Marcus Stoinis have stood out, while the bowling attack remains strong without Cummins and Hazlewood. Nathan Ellis (4/12) and Adam Zampa (4/23) are in excellent form, making Australia’s defense formidable.
Zimbabwe: The team, known as the ‘Chevrons,’ is playing aggressively. Sikandar Raza is key to their success, contributing significantly in batting and bowling. The return of veteran player Brendan Taylor adds stability to the middle order. Their fast bowlers, Blessing Muzarabani and Richard Ngarava, excelled in their match against Oman, proving they can take advantage of the bounce in Colombo. Zimbabwe has a history of surprising Australia in T20 World Cups (2007), and they hope to repeat that performance.
Squads
Australia: Mitchell Marsh (captain), Xavier Bartlett, Cooper Connolly, Tim David, Ben Dwarshuis, Cameron Green, Nathan Ellis, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Matthew Kuhnemann, Glenn Maxwell, Matthew Renshaw, Marcus Stoinis, Adam Zampa
Zimbabwe: Sikandar Raza (captain), Brian Bennett, Ryan Burl, Graeme Cremer, Bradley Evans, Clive Madande, Tinotenda Maposa, Tadiwanashe Marumani, Wellington Masakadza, Tony Munyonga, Tashinga Musekiwa, Blessing Muzarabani, Dion Myers, Richard Ngarava, Brendan Taylor
AUS vs ZIM, T20 World Cup 2026: Today’s Match Prediction
Case 1:
- Australia wins the toss and bats first
- Australia’s Powerplay score: 50-60 (6 overs)
- Australia’s total score: 170-185
Case 2:
- Zimbabwe wins the toss and bats first
- Zimbabwe’s Powerplay score: 40-50 (6 overs)
- Zimbabwe’s total score: 140-155
Match result: Australia to win the contest.
