Last Updated on 2 months ago by Charbel Coorey

West Indies and Zimbabwe will meet in the 44th match of the ICC T20 World Cup 2026. This will be the third game of the Super 8 round. Both sides were undefeated during the group stages and will look to continue their good form. The Wankhede Stadium will host this game on 23rd February 2026 at 7 PM IST. 

The West Indies won all four of their league stage games. They are in good form, but apart from one game against England, they didn’t have to do a lot of work as a team. The Super 8 round will test their strength, and they’ll have to be at their best.

Top order’s form is a concern for them, as Shai Hope did score 75 runs in the last game, but overall he’s failed to get going. Brandon King too has struggled in the tournament so far, averaging only 15.50 in four games.

Shimron Hetmyer, Sherfane Rutherford and Jason Holder are the only batters who are looking in good touch. The likes of Rovman Powell, Roston Chase, Shai Hope, and others have to be take responsibility. Romario Shepherd’s fitness is another concern to overcome.

Bowling-wise, the Windies looked in good form. Shamar Joseph and Jason Holder have been brilliant while Gudakesh Motie has been in sublime form as well. Akeal Hosein hasn’t been at his best and they’ll need some contributions from Matthew Forde too.

Meanwhile, Zimbabwe won three games with one game ending as a no result due to rain in the group stages. Brian Bennett (175 runs in 3 games with two fifties) has been the best batter for his side. Tadiwanashe Marumani, Ryan Burl and Sikandar Raza have also contributed in what has been an impressive tournament for the Chevrons to date.

Bowling has been their biggest strength this tournament. Blessing Muzarabani (9 wickets) and Brad Evans (8 wickets) are have helped carry their side to the Super 8 round. Spinners Ryan Burl, Wellington Masakadza, and Graeme Cremer will have to step up at the Wankhede.

ICC T20 World Cup 2026 44th Match: WI vs ZIM Probable Playing XIs

West Indies: 1. Shai Hope (c & wk), 2. Johnson Charles/Brandon King, 3. Shimron Hetmyer, 4. Roston Chase, 5. Rovman Powell, 6. Sherfane Rutherford, 7. Jason Holder, 8. Matthew Forde/Romario Shepherd, 9. Gudakesh Motie, 10. Akeal Hosein, 11. Shamar Joseph

Zimbabwe: 1. Briant Bennett, 2. Tadiwanashe Marumani (wk), 3. Ryan Burl, 4. Sikandar Raza (c), 5. Dion Myers, 6. Tony Munyonga, 7. Tashinga Musekiwa, 8. Brad Evans, 9. Wellington Masakadza, 10. Graeme Cremer, 11. Blessing Muzarabani

Wankhede Mumbai Stadium Pitch Report and Weather

The pitch at Wankhede stadium, in this tournament, hasn’t been the same as it’s generally known to be. The ball has turned and gripped. The average first innings score here in the ICC T20 WC 2026 has been 161 runs. But despite all this, a good batting wicket with some aid for the bowlers is expected for this match. 

A clear day with no chance of rain awaits the cricket fans.

Fantasy Cricket Tips for WI vs ZIM: Players to Watch/Key Stats

Top Wicket-Keeper Picks:  

• Shai Hope looked to be back in form in the last game. He scored 75 runs and helped his side defeat Italy. Hope is a good player of spin bowling and can score big once he gets going. Try him as C/VC in some of your teams.

Key batter picks: 

• Shimron Hetmyer has been in great form in the tournament. He’s looked very confident at the crease and is hitting sixes for fun. He has 134 runs in four games (average 44.66 and a strike rate of 159.52). Hetmyer will be a top C/VC choice.
• Sherfane Rutherford in another must pick in your fantasy teams. He’s a key batter for the Windies down the order and can score quickly. Rutherford has 126 runs in three innings at a strike rate of 180.

Top all-rounder picks: 

• Sikandar Raza found form against Sri Lanka, scoring a match-winning 45 off 26 balls. Raza is a quality player and a proven match-winner and will contribute with both bat and ball, which makes him a good C/VC pick.
• Brian Bennett has been the most consistent batter for his side with 175 runs in three games with two fifties to his name. He is yet to be dismissed. He can bowl a few overs of his off-spin if required. Bennett is a popular C/VC option for this match. 
• Brad Evans has eight wickets in three matches so far at a strike rate of 7.7. He’s picking up wickets consistently and is a key player for his team. Evans will bowl the important overs, and he’s handy with the bat too. Another good C/VC choice.
• Jason Holder has 42 runs and seven wickets in four matches. He played a crucial knock of 33 against England. Holder is performing with both bat and ball. He can trouble Zimbabwe’s batters in this match. Holder will be an excellent C/VC pick.

Key bowler picks: 

• Gudakesh Motie will be a someone you can’t miss out on from your fantasy teams for this game. He will fancy his chances against Zimbabwe’s somewhat untested middle order. Motie will be a top differential C/VC option.
• Blessing Muzarabani has been in the form of his life in this tournament. He has nine wickets in three matches at an economy of 5.91 and a strike rate of 8. He’s getting the ball to move around and can hit the deck hard. 

Other Players to Consider for Your Fantasy Cricket Team 

• Tadiwanashe Marumani
• Shamarh Joseph
• Ryan Burl
• Roston Chase
• Jonhson Charles (if plays)

Other Stats 

• Head-to-Head (last 5 years): West Indies 1 (Only game played between the two sides in this phase).

ICC T20 World Cup 2026 44th Match: WI vs ZIM Dream11 Prediction Today

Note: The below teams are not based on the final playing XIs. We may not be able to update these in time. Use the stats and commentary in this article, as well as your own instincts, to create your teams.

Option 1:

Option 2:

ICC T20 World Cup 2026 44th Match: WI vs ZIM Match Prediction: Who will win?

While the West Indies will start as the favourites, they just can’t take Zimbabwe lightly. They have defeated Australia and Sri Lanka to qualify for the Super 8 round. This will be a tight game and Zimbabwe will have to bat well if they are to win.

West Indies to win.

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All statistics and matchups in this article have been verified by ESPNcricinfo, and Cricmetric.