Canada will face Italy in a T20 World Cup warm-up match on February 2, 2026, at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. This is the evening fixture on the opening day of warm-up matches, with the game scheduled for 7:00 PM IST under lights.
This contest is significant for both sides. Canada is making their second consecutive T20 World Cup appearance after featuring in the 2024 edition in the West Indies and South Africa. Italy, meanwhile, are making history as a first-time participant in any ICC World Cup event. They qualified through the Europe Regional Final in July 2025, upsetting Scotland along the way. Both teams will use this warm-up to adjust to Indian conditions and finalise their playing combinations ahead of the tournament, which begins on February 7.
Canada is in Group D alongside New Zealand, South Africa, Afghanistan, and the UAE, while Italy is in Group C with England, the West Indies, Scotland and Nepal. Both sides also have a second warm-up game scheduled: Canada face Nepal on February 5 in Chennai, and Italy face the UAE on February 6 in Chennai.
Canada vs Italy Match Preview
The MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai will host this warm-up fixture under floodlights. The game starts at 7:00 PM IST.
| Details | Information |
|---|---|
| Match | Canada vs Italy, T20 World Cup Warm-up |
| Date | 02 February 2026 |
| Time | 7:00 PM IST / 1:30 PM GMT |
| Venue | MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chepauk, Chennai |
| Series | ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 Warm-up Matches |
Pitch Report
The MA Chidambaram Stadium, commonly known as Chepauk, is one of the most iconic cricket grounds in India. The pitch here is known for offering assistance to both batters and bowlers, making it a balanced surface. The wicket tends to be on the slower side compared to other Indian venues and is famous for being spin-friendly. Spinners find grip and turn throughout the innings, especially as the match progresses and the surface dries out.
Fast bowlers can extract some swing with the new ball, and batters who settle in can score freely in the powerplay. The average first-innings T20I score at Chepauk is around 160–170. Scores of 160-plus are competitive, and anything above 175 is a strong total. The straight boundary is approximately 78 metres, while the square boundaries are shorter at around 63–68 metres.
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Pitch Type | Balanced, slightly spin-friendly, and slow |
| Average 1st Innings Score | Around 160–170 in T20 conditions |
| Pace vs Spin | Pacers get swing early, spinners dominate middle, and death overs |
| Toss Factor | Teams batting first have historically held an edge at Chepauk |
Weather Report
Chennai in early February is warm and dry, ideal for an uninterrupted evening match. The temperature during the day reaches around 29–31°C, dropping to about 21°C at night. Since this is a 7:00 PM start, conditions should be pleasant by match time. Rain is extremely unlikely in February, one of Chennai’s driest months. Humidity levels sit around 65–70%, typical for the coastal city.
| Condition | Details |
|---|---|
| Temperature | Around 29°C at match time, dropping to 23–24°C later |
| Sky | Clear to partly cloudy |
| Rain Chance | Very low |
| Humidity | Around 65 to 70% |
| Overall | Warm and dry evening, comfortable conditions for a full match |
Toss Prediction
At the MA Chidambaram Stadium, teams batting first have generally fared well in T20 cricket. The pitch slows as the game progresses, making chasing more challenging, especially against spin. In the IPL, teams batting second have won more often at this venue in recent seasons, but in international T20s, the surface tends to grip more. For an evening game, dew is not a major factor at Chepauk compared to other Indian venues. Expect the toss-winning captain to consider batting first and posting a competitive total, as defending totals on this surface have historically been effective.
Injury Updates
Canada: No major injury concerns have been reported. The full 15-member World Cup squad is available. Captain Dilpreet Bajwa leads a balanced squad that includes experienced campaigners like Nicholas Kirton, Navneet Dhaliwal, and Saad Bin Zafar. Canada qualified for the 2026 T20 World Cup after going unbeaten in the Americas Regional Final in June 2025, winning all five matches, including a seven-wicket victory over the Bahamas in the decider.
Italy: Emilio Gay is the notable absentee, missing the tournament due to injury. Former Australia international Joe Burns, who captained Italy during the qualification process, was dropped from the squad late last year. Wayne Madsen has taken over as captain. The squad includes former South Africa international JJ Smuts, who adds significant T20 experience. The rest of the 15-member squad is fully fit and available.
Dream11 Team For Canada vs Italy
Canada vs Italy Head-to-Head Records In T20Is
Canada and Italy have never met in T20I cricket. This warm-up match will be their first-ever encounter at the international level in any format of cricket. Canada has significantly more T20I experience, having played over 60 T20I matches since gaining full T20I status. Italy, as a newer entrant to the international T20I scene, has limited T20I match experience. Canada is ranked 20th in the ICC T20I rankings, while Italy ranks lower.
| Category | Stats |
|---|---|
| Canada vs Italy T20I Matches | 0 (First-ever meeting) |
| Canada Wins | N/A |
| Italy Wins | N/A |
| Canada T20 WC Appearances | 2 (2024 and 2026) |
| Italy T20 WC Appearances | 1 (2026 – debut) |
- Canada featured in the 2024 T20 World Cup, playing in the group stage against teams like India, Pakistan, Ireland, and the USA
- Italy is making its maiden appearance in any ICC World Cup event
- Italy qualified by finishing runners-up at the 2025 Europe Regional Final, beating Scotland in a key group-stage match
- Canada qualified by going unbeaten in the 2025 Americas Regional Final
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Top Picks For The Match
| Player | Team | Role | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dilpreet Bajwa | CAN | Batter/Captain | Canada captain, consistent top-order batter, leads from the front |
| Nicholas Kirton | CAN | Batter | Experienced middle-order batter, vital run-scorer for Canada in T20Is |
| Saad Bin Zafar | CAN | All-rounder | Left-arm spinner and handy lower-order bat, spin-friendly Chepauk suits him |
| Kaleem Sana | CAN | Bowler | Right-arm fast bowler, Canada’s leading pace threat with swing ability |
| Wayne Madsen | ITA | Batter/Captain | Italy captain, vastly experienced county cricketer with Derbyshire, anchors the batting |
| JJ Smuts | ITA | All-rounder | Former South Africa international with 13 T20Is, brings vital big-match experience |
| Grant Stewart | ITA | All-rounder | County cricket experience with Kent, useful seam bowler and lower-order batter |
| Benjamin Manenti | ITA | Bowler | Leg-spinner with Australian domestic cricket experience, could thrive on Chepauk surface |
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