The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 kicks off with a massive Group C clash as the two-time champions, West Indies, take on Scotland at the iconic Eden Gardens. This match carries significant weight for the Caribbean side, who are looking to reclaim their status as T20 powerhouses at the very venue where they famously won their second title in 2016. For Scotland, who entered the tournament as a late replacement for Bangladesh, this is a golden opportunity to repeat their historic upset over the Windies from the 2022 edition.
WI vs SCO, T20 World Cup 2026: 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 world-renowned for its lightning-fast outfield and a pitch that generally favors stroke-play. The surface is prepared with black cotton soil, which typically provides a true bounce and good pace early in the game. However, as the match progresses, the track can slow down slightly, bringing quality spinners like Gudakesh Motie and Mark Watt into the equation. Historically, the chasing team has a significant advantage here (winning 8 out of 13 T20Is), primarily due to the dew factor that makes the ball difficult to grip for bowlers in the evening. The captain winning the toss will almost certainly elect to bowl first.
Team dynamics and key players
West Indies: Under the leadership of Shai Hope, the Windies boast a lineup filled with global T20 superstars. While their recent form has been mixed, losing a series to South Africa and a warm-up to Afghanistan, their raw power remains unmatched. Shimron Hetmyer and Rovman Powell are the pillars of the middle order, while Shamar Joseph provides the X-factor with the ball. Their strategy will revolve around maximizing the Powerplay and using their deep batting reservoir to overpower the Scottish attack.
Scotland: Led by the veteran Richie Berrington, Scotland are a team known for tactical discipline. Despite losing their warm-up fixtures to Afghanistan and Namibia, they have the benefit of playing with ‘nothing to lose.’ George Munsey remains their most dangerous weapon at the top of the order, while Brandon McMullen has shown he can compete with the best. Their bowling relies heavily on the guile of left-arm spinner Mark Watt, who will be crucial in restricting the heavy-hitting West Indians on the large 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)
WI vs SCO, T20 World Cup 2026: Today’s 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 to win the contest.
Also READ: From Dinesh Karthik to Wasim Akram: Full list for commentators for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026
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