Scotland vs Nepal Prediction & Match Preview – T20 World Cup 2026, 33rd Match
Match summary
Scotland take on Nepal at Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai on 17 February 2026. Our preview covers form, key players, likely XIs, pitch and weather.
Match details
| Match | Scotland vs Nepal, 33rd Match |
|---|---|
| Series | ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 |
| Date | 17 Feb 2026 |
| Start time | 1:30 pm GMT / 7:00 pm local |
| Venue | Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai |
| Status | Played |
| Our pick | Scotland |
| Toss pick | Nepal |
Matches in this series
Match preview
Scotland, led by Richie Berrington, are under some pressure. A narrow five-wicket loss to England dropped them to third in the table, and a win is essential to keep their Super 8 hopes alive. George Munsey, who missed the last game, is expected to return alongside Michael Jones at the top. Berrington anchors the middle order with Brandon McMullen and Tom Bruce, while Michael Leask and Matthew Cross provide late runs.
In the bowling, McMullen and Brad Currie will aim to hit early, and Leask, with 15 wickets in his last 10 games, is vital in the middle overs, supported by Brad Wheal, Mark Watt and Oliver Davidson.
Nepal, captained by Rohit Paudel, are out of the race for the Super 8 after three straight losses, the latest a nine-wicket defeat to the West Indies. The batting has been the main concern. Kushal Bhurtel and Aasif Sheikh must give them a start, with Paudel, Dipendra Singh Airee and Aarif Sheikh building in the middle. Karan KC and Sompal Kami need to strike early, and Sandeep Lamichhane is the key middle-overs bowler, supported by Nandan Yadav.
Wankhede is typically a batting-friendly surface with true bounce and consistent pace, short boundaries and a quick outfield. The sea breeze can give the new ball brief swing, and spinners get limited help. In night games, dew often becomes a major factor and makes bowling second harder.
Warm and slightly humid conditions are expected at the evening start, at around 27–29 °C, with mostly clear to partly cloudy skies and minimal chance of rain. A gentle sea breeze may help swing bowlers early, and dew is likely to settle in later.
Expected scores
| Innings | Predicted | Actual |
|---|---|---|
| First innings | 170–185 | – |
| Second innings | 175–190 | – |
Scotland
Scotland have the stronger batting and a proven spinner in Michael Leask, while Nepal have lost three in a row and are out of contention.
Toss pick: Nepal
FAQ
Who is expected to win Scotland vs Nepal?
Our preview picks Scotland, who need a win to keep their Super 8 hopes alive.
What is Nepal’s situation?
Nepal have lost three straight matches, including a nine-wicket defeat to the West Indies, and are out of Super 8 contention.
Does dew matter in Mumbai?
Yes. Dew is expected to make the ball skid onto the bat, which could favour the team chasing.
Probable XIs
Expected line-ups from our preview. c = captain, wk = wicketkeeper.
Scotland
- Richie Berringtonc
- George Munsey
- Michael Jones
- Brandon McMullen
- Tom Bruce
- Michael Leask
- Matthew Crosswk
- Mark Watt
- Oliver Davidson
- Brad Wheal
- Brad Currie
Nepal
- Rohit Paudelc
- Kushal Bhurtel
- Aasif Sheikh
- Dipendra Singh Airee
- Aarif Sheikh
- Lokesh Bam
- Gulshan Jha
- Sompal Kami
- Karan KC
- Nandan Yadav
- Sandeep Lamichhane