Nepal and Italy are ready to face each other in the 17th match of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 at Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai, on Sunday, February 12. This match is scheduled to begin at 3:00 PM IST. Stay tuned with our NEP vs ITA prediction, team preview, pitch report, player stats and winner prediction ahead of this exciting contest.
Nepal started the tournament in a great way as they narrowly missed upsetting England. Although they lost the last match, their performance was praised by the entire cricket world. Currently, Nepal is in 4th position in the points table of Group C with one defeat.
On the other hand, Italy also didn’t perform well in their first-ever match of the T20 World Cup. They lost the match to Scotland due to poor performance. Italy is currently at the bottom of the points table in Group C. Both teams have lost their previous matches, so one team will definitely get its first win of the tournament.
Head-to-Head Record: No Head-to-head record available between both sides as Nepal and Italy will face each other for the first time in this match.
Nepal Preview
Nepal put up a stunning performance in their very first match, giving a tough fight to a strong team like England. Chasing a target of 185 runs, the team scored 180 runs and lost the match by a poor margin of 4 runs. Nepal certainly batted well in the last match, which will keep their confidence high in the upcoming matches of this tournament.
In batting, Nepal performed well in the last match. They got a quick start from the top order by Kushal Bhurtel, followed by Rohit Paudel’s 39 runs in 34 balls. Dipendra Singh Airee also did well and scored 44 runs. But Lokesh Bam definitely deserves praise, scoring 39 runs in 20 balls to keep Nepal in the match until the end.
Nepal had a decent performance in bowling department in the last match. Dipendra Singh Airee took two wickets for 23 runs in three overs. Moreover, Nandan Yadav took two wickets for 25 runs in three overs. Apart from them, Sandeep Lamichhane proved to be a brilliant economical bowler, taking one wicket for 25 runs in four overs.
Tip
| Player | Tip | Odds |
|---|---|---|
| Dipendra Singh Airee | Over 24.5 Runs | 1.85 |
Dipendra Singh Airee scored 44 runs in the last match and also contributed with the ball. His all-round form and consistency make him Nepal’s most reliable performer and a strong pick to cross this mark again.
Italy Preview
Italy did not have a good T20 World Cup debut as they performed very disappointingly. Chasing a target of 208, Italy managed to score only 134 runs and lost the match to Scotland by a huge margin of 73 runs. Italy will definitely want to improve their game in the next match.
The batting performance was not very good in the last match. Their openers didn’t give them a good start as they needed it most. However, Harry Manenti performed well and scored 37 runs in 25 balls. While Ben Manenti scored 52 runs in 31 balls. They definitely helped the team reach a respectable total.
In bowling, Italy needed to improve to get good results. Their performance was not anything special in the last game. However, Ali Hasan proved to be a good bowler as he took a wicket for 21 runs in four overs. While Grant Stewart, Thomas Draca, and JJ Smuts also took one wicket each but were unable to stop the run flow by Scotland batters.
Tip
| Player | Tip | Odds |
|---|---|---|
| Ben Manenti | Over 23.5 Runs | 1.85 |
Ben Manenti played a strong knock of 52 off 31 balls in the previous game. As Italy’s most in-form batter, he will be key to building a competitive total and is well placed to cross this mark again.
NEP vs ITA Probably Playing XI
Nepal: Kushal Bhurtel, Aasif Sheikh (WK), Rohit Paudel ((C), Dipendra Singh Airee, Aarif Sheikh, Lokesh Bam, Gulshan Jha, Karan KC, Sher Malla, Nandan Yadav, Sandeep Lamichhane.
Italy: Justin Mosca, Anthony Mosca, JJ Smuts, Harry Manenti, Wayne Madsen (C), Ben Manenti, Grant Stewart, Gian-Piero Meado (WK), Crishan Kalugamaga, Thomas Draca, Ali Hasan.
NEP vs ITA Pitch Report
The pitch at the , Mumbai, is generally considered a batting-friendly surface. The short boundaries and flat pitch could be helpful for batters, and the ball comes onto the bat easily. The pacers may get some assistance in the early overs, but scoring becomes easier later on. In the last match too, the batsmen dominated here, and both teams managed to score 180 or more.
The weather on Thursday at Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai is expected to be sunny, around 30°C, with a 0% chance of rain, moderate 48% humidity, and breezy winds near 18 km/h.
Venue T20I Statistics
| Category | Value |
|---|---|
| Total Matches | 15 |
| Matches Won Batting First | 8 |
| Matches Won Bowling First | 7 |
| Average 1st Innings Score | 177 |
| Average 2nd Innings Score | 156 |
| Highest Total Recorded | 247/9 (20 Ovs) – IND vs ENG |
| Lowest Total Recorded | 80/10 (16.2 Ovs) – INDW vs ENGW |
| Highest Score Chased | 230/8 (19.4 Ovs) – ENG vs RSA |
| Lowest Score Defended | 143/6 (20 Ovs) – WIW vs NZW |
NEP vs ITA Winner Prediction
Nepal have already proved themselves by giving a brilliant performance in the first match that it can be very difficult for any team to defeat them. Moreover, the Nepal team definitely looks much better than Italy, which is clearly visible from their brilliant performance. Hence, Nepal will be the favourite to win this match.
On the other hand, Italy’s performance has been good of late. Although they lost the last match against Scotland by a big margin. But they have the capability to give a tough fight to Nepal. Hence, by improving their performance, they have the ability to pose a good challenge to Nepal.
Our Prediction: Nepal
T20 World Cup 2026 Live Streaming Details
| Region | Where to Watch |
|---|---|
| India | Star Sports, Jio Hotstar |
| Sri Lanka | ThePapare, Dialog Play |
| Pakistan | Myco, Tamasha, Tapmad, ARY Zapp |
| Afghanistan | AF Sports |
| Bangladesh | TSM (via Rabbithole) |
| North America | Willow |
| Middle East & North Africa | E& (selected matches), ICC.tv |
| United Kingdom | Sky Sports, ICC.tv |
| Sub-Saharan Africa | SuperSport, ICC.tv |
| New Zealand | Sky TV NZ , ICC.tv |
| Australia, Europe, Caribbean, SE Asia, Pacific Islands, South America | ICC.tv |
Code: TOPBK
