The two-time T20 World Cup champions, West Indies, will kick off their campaign against Scotland in the second match of the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 on February 7, 2026, at the iconic Eden Gardens in Kolkata. This is the opening fixture in Group C for both teams.
West Indies enter as favorites with a strong squad led by Shai Hope. Scotland replaced Bangladesh in the tournament after a late withdrawal and will make their seventh appearance at the T20 World Cup. The Richie Berrington-led side shocked the Windies in the 2022 edition and will look to pull off another upset at one of cricket’s most historic venues.
West Indies vs Scotland Match Preview
This Group C clash marks the start of the tournament campaign for both sides. West Indies will play their next match against Italy on February 10 in Kandy, while Scotland faces Italy on February 9 in Kanpur.
| Details | Information |
|---|---|
| Match | West Indies vs Scotland, T20 World Cup 2nd Match |
| Date | 07 February 2026 |
| Time | 3:00 PM IST / 9:30 AM GMT |
| Venue | Eden Gardens, Kolkata |
| Series | ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 |
| Context | Group C opener for both teams |
Pitch Report
The Eden Gardens pitch offers a balanced surface for both batters and bowlers. The track starts flat with true bounce, allowing batters to play their shots freely. Fast bowlers can extract some seam movement and extra bounce with the new ball during the power play.
As the match progresses, the conditions get better for batting. The surface has good pace, and the lightning-fast outfield rewards timing over power. Spinners come into play during the middle overs when the pitch slows down slightly. Kolkata’s red soil favors spin bowling as the game wears on.
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Pitch Type | Balanced, favors batters initially |
| Average 1st Innings Score | Around 156-165 in T20Is |
| Pace vs Spin | Pacers are effective early, spinners in the middle overs |
| Toss Factor | The team batting second has a slight advantage |
| Dew Factor | Dew is possible in evening matches |
Weather Report
Kolkata in early February enjoys warm and sunny weather. The temperature on match day will range from 16°C to 29°C. During the afternoon hours of the match, temperatures are expected to be around 26-28°C. There is a minimal chance of rain, making conditions ideal for an uninterrupted contest. Humidity levels will stay around 50-55%.
| Condition | Details |
|---|---|
| Temperature | 16-29°C (around 26-28°C during match) |
| Sky | Sunny and clear |
| Rain Chance | Very low (minimal precipitation) |
| Humidity | Around 50-55% |
| Overall | Ideal conditions for cricket |
Toss Prediction
The toss winner at Eden Gardens often prefers to bat first and put a big score on the board. The pitch offers good conditions for batting early in the innings. However, dew can become a factor in evening matches, making the ball harder to grip for bowlers. Teams have historically enjoyed batting under lights at this venue. Expect the toss winner to consider batting first to set a target.
Injury Updates
West Indies: The Windies head into this match after losing their warm-up fixture against Afghanistan by 23 runs. Shai Hope returns to lead the squad after missing the recent T20I series against Afghanistan. The team has explosive batters in Shimron Hetmyer, Rovman Powell, and Sherfane Rutherford. Matthew Forde impressed in the warm-up with an unbeaten 52 off 26 balls. Jason Holder provides experience with both bat and ball. Akeal Hosein and Gudakesh Motie will anchor the spin attack on this turning track.
Scotland: Scotland lost their warm-up match against Namibia by 6 runs in a high-scoring thriller. Brandon McMullen smashed 95 off 39 balls in the chase, showing exceptional form. Captain Richie Berrington contributed 46 off 26 deliveries. The squad includes debutant fast bowler Zainullah Ihsan and former New Zealand batter Tom Bruce. Mark Watt and Michael Leask will lead the spin attack. The team received a late call-up after Bangladesh withdrew, leaving limited preparation time.
Dream11 Team For West Indies vs Scotland
West Indies vs Scotland Head-to-Head Records In T20Is
West Indies and Scotland have faced each other only once in T20Is. Scotland stunned the two-time champions by 42 runs in the T20 World Cup 2022 at Hobart. George Munsey starred with an unbeaten 66, while Mark Watt took 3 for 12 as West Indies crumbled to 118 all out. This remains one of the biggest upsets in T20 World Cup history.
| Category | Stats |
|---|---|
| Total T20I Matches | 1 |
| West Indies Wins | 0 |
| Scotland Wins | 1 |
| No Result | 0 |
| T20 World Cup Meetings | Scotland leads 1-0 |
| Last Meeting (T20 WC 2022) | Scotland won by 42 runs |
Last Five T20I Meetings
- Scotland won by 42 runs – 17 Oct 2022 (T20 World Cup, Hobart)
Note: This was the only T20I meeting between these two teams.
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Top Picks For The Match
| Player | Team | Role | Key Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| George Munsey | SCO | Opener | Match-winner vs WI in 2022, aggressive stroke-maker |
| Brandon McMullen | SCO | Batter | Scored 95 in warm-up vs Namibia, strike rate of 243 |
| Shai Hope | WI | WK-Batter | Captain, reliable opener, excellent SA20 form |
| Jason Holder | WI | All-rounder | Experienced campaigner, handy with bat and ball |
| Akeal Hosein | WI | Bowler | Left-arm spinner, effective in powerplay |
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