Zimbabwe Opts to Bowl First Against West Indies in T20 World Cup 2026 Opener

Zimbabwe vs West Indies: T20 World Cup 2026 Clash

On February 23, at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, Zimbabwe's captain Sikandar Raza won the toss and decided to bowl first in their opening Super 8 match against the West Indies during the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026.

Both teams entered this Super 8 encounter as the leaders of their respective groups from the tournament's earlier stages. The West Indies, who have won the championship twice, advanced by defeating Scotland, England, Nepal, and Italy. Meanwhile, Zimbabwe secured their place with victories over Oman, Australia, and Sri Lanka, although their match against Ireland ended without a result due to abandonment.

A highlight for the West Indies was their impressive 30-run win over England, led by Shai Hope. Zimbabwe also made headlines with a notable 23-run victory against Australia, showcasing their strong form as they progressed to the Super 8s.

After the toss, Raza explained his decision to bowl first, citing the pitch's historical tendency to favor teams chasing a target. He expressed his desire to allow the seamers to make early breakthroughs and confirmed that Richard Ngarava would replace Wellington Masakadza in the lineup. Raza also mentioned the honor of competing against a champion team at such a prestigious venue.

“Historically, this ground is more suited for chasing. We want to give our seamers a chance to make early inroads. Ngarava is in for Masakadza. It’s a privilege to play against one of the champions at such an iconic venue,” he stated during the toss.

Here are the playing elevens for the West Indies vs Zimbabwe T20 World Cup 2026 match:

Zimbabwe Playing XI: Brian Bennett, Tadiwanashe Marumani (w), Dion Myers, Sikandar Raza (c), Ryan Burl, Tony Munyonga, Tashinga Musekiwa, Brad Evans, Graeme Cremer, Richard Ngarava, Blessing Muzarabani.

West Indies Playing XI: Brandon King, Shai Hope (w/c), Shimron Hetmyer, Rovman Powell, Sherfane Rutherford, Jason Holder, Romario Shepherd, Matthew Forde, Akeal Hosein, Gudakesh Motie, Shamar Joseph.