February 15, 2026 –West Indies vs NEP T20 ICC World Cup: The “Men in Maroon” signaled their intent to reclaim global T20 dominance with a ruthless demolition of Nepal. On a surface that typically favors high-scoring contests, West Indies’ bowlers turned the screw early, and their batters chased down a modest target of 134 with nearly five overs to spare.
West Indies vs NEP Match Overview: A One-Sided Affair in the City of Dreams
West Indies captain Shai Hope won a crucial toss and invited Nepal to bat first. The decision was vindicated within the first over as Akeal Hosein cleaned up Kushal Bhurtel. What followed was a procession of Nepal batters struggling against the disciplined line and length of Matthew Forde and Jason Holder. At 46/5 in the 11th over, Nepal looked in danger of being bowled out for double digits.
However, Nepal’s talisman Dipendra Singh Airee played a lone hand of resistance. His fighting 58 off 47 balls, supported by a late unbeaten cameo from Sompal Kami (26)*, helped the Rhinos scramble to a respectable 133/8.
The chase was a mere formality for the Caribbean giants. Despite the early loss of Brandon King, Shai Hope and Shimron Hetmyer orchestrated an unbeaten 91-run partnership. Hope finished the game in style with a single to long-on, bringing up his half-century and sealing a 9-wicket victory.
Match Scorecard: Detailed Statistics
1st Innings: Nepal Batting
| Batter | Dismissal | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s | SR |
| Kushal Bhurtel | b Akeal Hosein | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 33.33 |
| Aasif Sheikh (wk) | c Hetmyer b Holder | 11 | 10 | 2 | 0 | 110.00 |
| Rohit Paudel (c) | lbw b Matthew Forde | 5 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 71.42 |
| Dipendra S. Airee | c Powell b Holder | 58 | 47 | 3 | 3 | 123.40 |
| Aarif Sheikh | c Forde b Holder | 2 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 25.00 |
| Lokesh Bam | c †Hope b Shamar Joseph | 13 | 15 | 2 | 0 | 86.66 |
| Gulsan Jha | b Roston Chase | 11 | 14 | 0 | 1 | 78.57 |
| Sompal Kami | not out | 26 | 15 | 4 | 0 | 173.33 |
| Karan KC | c Forde b Holder | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 50.00 |
| Extras | (lb 1, nb 1, w 3) | 5 | – | – | – | – |
| TOTAL | (20 Overs) | 133/8 | RR: 6.65 |
West Indies Bowling Performance
| Bowler | Overs | Maidens | Runs | Wickets | Econ |
| Jason Holder | 4.0 | 0 | 27 | 4 | 6.75 |
| Matthew Forde | 4.0 | 1 | 10 | 1 | 2.50 |
| Akeal Hosein | 4.0 | 0 | 30 | 1 | 7.50 |
| Roston Chase | 2.0 | 0 | 10 | 1 | 5.00 |
| Shamar Joseph | 4.0 | 0 | 38 | 1 | 9.50 |
| Gudakesh Motie | 2.0 | 0 | 17 | 0 | 8.50 |
2nd Innings: West Indies Batting (Target: 134)
| Batter | Dismissal | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s | SR |
| Brandon King | c Bhurtel b Nandan Yadav | 22 | 17 | 4 | 0 | 129.41 |
| Shai Hope (c/wk) | not out | 61 | 44 | 5 | 3 | 138.63 |
| Shimron Hetmyer | not out | 46 | 32 | 4 | 2 | 143.75 |
| Extras | (w 5) | 5 | – | – | – | – |
| TOTAL | (15.2 Overs) | 134/1 | RR: 8.74 |
Nepal Bowling Performance
| Bowler | Overs | Maidens | Runs | Wickets | Econ |
| Nandan Yadav | 3.0 | 0 | 22 | 1 | 7.33 |
| Sandeep Lamichhane | 3.0 | 0 | 38 | 0 | 12.66 |
| Dipendra S. Airee | 3.2 | 0 | 18 | 0 | 5.40 |
| Karan KC | 2.0 | 0 | 15 | 0 | 7.50 |
| Kushal Bhurtel | 1.0 | 0 | 11 | 0 | 11.00 |
| Gulshan Jha | 1.0 | 0 | 12 | 0 | 12.00 |
| Sompal Kami | 2.0 | 0 | 13 | 0 | 6.50 |
Post-Match Analysis: Key Takeaways
1. Jason Holder’s Experience Shines
On a day where the Mumbai sun made conditions grueling, Jason Holder used all his experience to exploit a pitch that offered extra bounce. His figures of 4/27 included the vital wickets of Aasif Sheikh and Karan KC, effectively ending any hopes of a Nepal comeback during the middle overs.
2. Dipendra Singh Airee: A Solo Warrior
Despite the result, Nepal’s Dipendra Singh Airee further cemented his reputation as one of the best Associate players in the world. His 58 (47) was a masterclass in building an innings under pressure. He was the only Nepal batter to strike at over 120, clearing the ropes three times against high-quality pace.
3. Matthew Forde’s Powerplay Control
While Holder took the wickets, Matthew Forde provided the pressure. His four-over spell, which included a maiden and went for only 10 runs, gave Nepal no room to breathe. This disciplined start forced the Nepal batters to play high-risk shots against the other bowlers.
4. Shai Hope Anchors the Super 8 Flight
Captain Shai Hope showed immense maturity. Rather than trying to finish the game in 10 overs, he and Hetmyer systematically dismantled Nepal’s bowling. Hope’s second T20 World Cup fifty was characterized by his exquisite timing and ability to find the gaps at Wankhede.
Player of the Match: Jason Holder
For his inspirational bowling spell of 4/27, which set the tone for the West Indies’ dominant win.