Mumbai, February 15
Nepal will face the West Indies on Sunday in its third group-stage match of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026. The game is set to begin at 11:15 a.m. local time at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium.
Having lost its first two matches, Nepal enters the contest under mounting pressure; the remaining fixtures are must-wins if it hopes to stay in contention. The West Indies, by contrast, arrive buoyed by consecutive victories and stand on the brink of advancing to the Super 8 round.
A win over Nepal would seal the West Indies’ place in the Super 8 and eliminate Nepal with a game to spare. Even two victories may not suffice for Nepal, which would still need other results to break in its favour.
At a pre-match press conference on Saturday, Nepal’s head coach, Stuart Law, acknowledged the formidable quality of the opposition and the level of performance required.
“We have to think only about winning the remaining two games,” he said. “Otherwise, we may as well pack our bags and go home.”
Coach Law reflected on the contrasting nature of Nepal’s opening defeats and emphasised the need to close the gap exposed in those matches. His pointed remarks about players’ use of social media have also stirred discussion in recent days.
West Indies spinner Akeal Hosein said his side was well aware of Nepal’s capabilities and would approach the encounter as it would any other World Cup fixture. Asked about the difference between the Nepali team that played a T20 International series in Sharjah last September and the one competing now at the World Cup, Hosein replied, “We know what Nepal are capable of and what they can do.”
The West Indies are two-time T20 World Cup champions, having lifted the trophy in 2012 and 2016. Currently ranked seventh in the ICC T20I standings and captained by Shai Hope, they are known for their explosive power-hitting.
Nepal and the West Indies have met three times in T20 Internationals, with Nepal winning two and losing one. In a historic series last October, Nepal secured a 2–1 series victory over the West Indies.
