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ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026

India vs West Indies Prediction & Match Preview – T20 World Cup 2026, 52nd Match

ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026Eden Gardens

India and the West Indies meet at Eden Gardens in the 52nd match of the T20 World Cup 2026. India come in after a 72-run win over Zimbabwe. Put in to bat, they made 256 in 20 overs: Abhishek Sharma struck 55 from 30 balls, Hardik Pandya was unbeaten on 50 from 23, Tilak Varma stayed not out on 44 and Ishan Kishan added 38.

The bowlers then defended the total, with Zimbabwe finishing on 184. Arshdeep Singh took 3 for 24, Varun Chakaravarthy 1 for 35, and Axar Patel and Shivam Dube a wicket apiece, while Pandya and Jasprit Bumrah went wicketless.

The West Indies are looking to recover from a nine-wicket defeat by South Africa. After being sent in they made 176, helped by Romario Shepherd’s unbeaten 52 off 37 and Jason Holder’s 49 off 31, but Brandon King made 21 and captain Shai Hope 16. Only Roston Chase (1 for 46) took a wicket as South Africa reached 177 in 16.1 overs.

India’s form and batting depth make them the side to beat on a surface that rewards strokeplay, though the West Indies’ power-hitting means they cannot be written off.

Probable XIs

India

  1. Abhishek Sharma
  2. Ishan Kishan (wk)
  3. Tilak Varma
  4. Suryakumar Yadav (c)
  5. Hardik Pandya
  6. Shivam Dube
  7. Rinku Singh
  8. Axar Patel
  9. Jasprit Bumrah
  10. Varun Chakaravarthy
  11. Arshdeep Singh

West Indies

  1. Brandon King
  2. Shai Hope (c, wk)
  3. Shimron Hetmyer
  4. Sherfane Rutherford
  5. Rovman Powell
  6. Jason Holder
  7. Romario Shepherd
  8. Roston Chase
  9. Akeal Hosein
  10. Shamar Joseph
  11. Gudakesh Motie

Pitch report

Eden Gardens usually plays well early, with true bounce, pace and a fast outfield with some shorter boundaries, so first-innings totals from the mid-150s to 180-plus are common. The surface can slow as the game goes on, helping spinners in the middle overs, and seamers need to lean on variations. Dew under lights can make bowling harder later, which is why captains winning the toss sometimes choose to field.

Weather

Early March evenings in Kolkata are expected to be clear and pleasant, with mainly sunny skies through the day and no significant rain forecast. Temperatures should ease from the afternoon highs to about 19–24°C by the 7:00 pm start, with moderate humidity.

Frequently asked questions

When is India vs West Indies at the T20 World Cup?

The 52nd match is on 1 March 2026 at Eden Gardens, Kolkata, starting at 7:00 pm local time.

What did India do in their last match?

They beat Zimbabwe by 72 runs, posting 256 after batting first; Abhishek Sharma made 55 off 30 and Hardik Pandya an unbeaten 50 off 23.

How did the West Indies fare last time?

They lost to South Africa by nine wickets, scoring 176 before South Africa chased it in 16.1 overs.

About ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026

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