Nepal vs Italy presents a classic associate-nation crossroads at the Wankhede Stadium, as both teams search for their first points in an unforgiving Group C.
For Nepal, the narrative is one of “so close yet so far,” following a heartbreaking four-run defeat to England in their opener, where they nearly pulled off the heist of the tournament.
Italy, meanwhile, is licking its wounds after a 73-run thumping at the hands of Scotland, a result that left them at the bottom of the table with a bruised net run rate of -3.650.
With the Mumbai sun beating down and the stakes heightened by a potential early exit, the contest will likely hinge on whether Nepal’s spin duo of Sandeep Lamichhane and Lalit Rajbanshi can dismantle an Italian top-order that looked fragile in their debut outing.
Fans are already scrambling for Nepal vs Italy tickets, knowing this is a do-or-die encounter for the Asian side.
If you can’t be at the stadium, you can catch the Nepal vs Italy live action to see if they bounce back from their narrow defeat. It’s not just about passion; strategy will play a huge role here.
We offer our best Nepal vs Italy predictions for this crucial Nepal vs Italy T20 World Cup match. Italy is hurting from a heavy loss to Scotland and needs a massive turnaround. This fixture promises pure passion as both sides fight to stay alive.
Table of Contents
Date, Time , Venue, Streaming and Tickets of Nepal vs Italy
- Date: February 12, 2026
- Venue: Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai
- Time: 3:00 PM IST
- Tournament: ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026
- Group: Group C
- Live Streaming: Jio Hotstar
- Nepal vs Italy tickets: Book My Show
Wankhede Pitch Report
The Wankhede surface offers pace and bounce during the afternoon session. Batters enjoy true bounce here, making stroke-play easier compared to other Indian venues. The pitch stays consistent throughout both innings, rarely breaking down.
Teams batting first have posted 170-plus scores regularly on this ground. Winning the toss matters less at Wankhede since conditions remain steady. Spinners find some turn during the middle overs, but pacers dominate the Powerplay. Short square boundaries reward clean hitting, while longer straight hits test timing and power.
Team News and Current Form
Nepal fell just four runs short against England in their opener. Sam Curran’s death bowling denied them a famous victory. The team showed tremendous fight, proving they belong at this level.
Captain Rohit Paudel marshaled his resources brilliantly. Nepal sits fourth in Group C with a respectable NRR of -0.200. Their performance against England boosted confidence across the squad.
Italy crashed to a 73-run defeat against Scotland in their tournament debut. Their batting lineup folded under pressure, managing just 130 runs. Wayne Madsen’s team occupies fifth place with a troubling NRR of -3.650.
The margin of defeat exposed gaps in their preparation. Italy did beat Ireland before the World Cup, showing they can compete when conditions suit them.
NEP vs Italy Probable Playing XIs
Nepal: Kushal Bhurtel, Aasif Sheikh (wk), Rohit Paudel (c), Dipendra Singh Airee, Aarif Sheikh, Sundeep Jora, Gulshan Jha, Sandeep Lamichhane, Sompal Kami, Karan KC, Lalit Rajbanshi
Italy: Gian Piero Meade, Justin Mosca, Marcus Campopiano, Wayne Madsen (c), Anthony Mosca, JJ Smuts, Harry Manenti, Crishan Kalugamage, Grant Stewart, Benjamin Manenti, Jaspreet Singh
Three Tactical Keys
Powerplay Aggression: Nepal must capitalize on Wankhede’s true bounce during the first six overs. Kushal Bhurtel thrives on pace, scoring freely through the offside. Italy needs early wickets from Grant Stewart to stop Nepal’s momentum. The opening partnership sets the tone for this Nepal vs Italy T20 clash.
Lamichhane Factor: Sandeep Lamichhane controls games through his leg-spin variations. He maintained a miserly economy of 5.32 across recent matches. Italy’s batters lack experience against quality wrist-spin. Lamichhane bowls crucial middle overs where dot balls create pressure. His battle against the Mosca brothers decides this contest.
Death-Over Execution: Nepal learned harsh lessons from England about finishing games. They need composure when defending or chasing tight totals. Italy must improve its death bowling after Scotland exposed their weakness. Teams scoring 50-plus in the final five overs typically win at Wankhede.
Players to Watch
- Kushal Bhurtel opens for Nepal with attacking intent, averaging 28.3 with a strike rate of 118.9. He plays spin confidently and punishes loose deliveries. Bhurtel scored 283 runs across his last ten matches, establishing himself as Nepal’s key aggressor.
- Aasif Sheikh provides stability behind the stumps and at the crease. He averages 34.13 with a healthy strike rate of 131.25. Sheikh accumulated 273 runs recently, converting starts into substantial scores.
- Justin Mosca brings firepower to Italy’s lineup with a blistering strike rate of 158.99. He attacks from ball one, putting bowlers under immediate pressure. Mosca managed 221 runs in ten matches despite his aggressive approach.
- Sandeep Lamichhane remains Nepal’s match-winner with 13 wickets in seven games. His economy of 5.32 chokes opposition scoring. Lamichhane bowls googlies and leg-breaks that deceive batters repeatedly.
- Crishan Kalugamage leads Italy’s attack with 11 wickets across nine matches. He swings the new ball and maintains an economy of 6.94. Kalugamage must remove Nepal’s openers early to give Italy a chance.
Form Guide
- Nepal Recent Results (February 2026):
- Lost to England by 4 runs (Group C).
- Beat Canada by 6 wickets (Warm-up).
- Beat UAE by 7 wickets (Warm-up).
- Italy Recent Results (February 2026):
- Lost to Scotland by 73 runs (Group C).
- Beat UAE by 112 runs (Warm-up).
- Beat Canada by 10 runs (Warm-up).
Key Stats
- Kushal Bhurtel (Nepal): He scored 29 runs off 17 balls against England.
- Anthony Mosca (Italy): He scored 13 runs off 12 balls against Scotland.
- Sandeep Lamichhane (Nepal): He took 1 wicket for 35 runs against England.
- Crishan Kalugamage (Italy): He took 0 wickets for 32 runs against Scotland.
Nepal vs Italy Predictions
Nepal enters as the clear favorites for this Nepal vs Italy T20 World Cup showdown. Their narrow loss to England demonstrated quality and composure. Italy struggles against spin bowling, which plays into Lamichhane’s hands perfectly.
Wankhede’s batting-friendly surface suits Nepal’s aggressive approach. The Asian team should post 165-170 batting first and defend comfortably. Expect Nepal to win by 25-30 runs or chase any target under 160 with four wickets remaining.
Lamichhane will likely claim player of the match honors with a three-wicket haul that breaks Italy’s middle order.
Stay tuned with Sports Dribble and its Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter accounts for updates!
My name is Krishanu Das the founder of the Sports Dribble.
I am Accountant by profession but a Sports Blogger by passion.
I am passionate about sharing my all knowledge and experiences of sports, with my readers and every sports enthusiast.