Match Details
Commentary
Italy (Probable XI): Justin Mosca, Anthony Mosca, JJ Smuts, Harry Manenti, Wayne Madsen (c), Ben Manenti, Grant Stewart, Gian Meade (wk), Ali Hasan, Crishan Kalugamage, Thomas Draca
Scotland (Probable XI): George Munsey, Michael Jones, Brandon McMullen, Matthew Henry Cross (wk), Tom Bruce, Richard Berrington (c), Mark Watt, Michael Alexander Leask, Oliver Davidson, Safyaan Sharif/Zainullah Ihsan, Bradley James Currie
Preview by Mohammad Anab
Nobody about a decade ago would have thought that there would come a time when Italy would be playing in a T20 World Cup and competing against the traditional cricket powerhouses in the multi-nation tournament. However, in 2026, they managed to achieve this feat, as on Monday, they will be playing their first-ever T20 WC match against Scotland in a Group C clash at the historic Eden Gardens.
Italy qualified for this WC on the back of a superb performance in the ICC Men's T20 World Cup Europe Region Final 2025 qualifiers. The side finished second, after the Netherlands, with two wins from four games. However, after that tournament, the side didn't get enough match practice in the format and played their next T20I only after six months when they toured UAE to play against Ireland in a three-match series ahead of this World Cup.
In that Ireland series, Italy were defeated by 2-1 but there were some positive signs. Like opening batter Anthony Mosca being the second-highest run scorer of the series and Italian bowlers making lives difficult for the Irish batters in a chase of 118 during the first game.
Most of the side's cricketers have an Aussie or Proteas background while there are players who have some sub-continental heritage as well. The biggest regret for them will be that Joe Burns couldn't make it to India as the batter and the Italian cricket board didn't come to a mutual understanding and hence, no formal contract was signed by him. Notably, it was Burns who led the side during the ICC Men's T20 World Cup Europe Region Final 2025.
Taking over the captaincy from Burns is Wayne Madsen, who has also represented South Africa in field hockey. Madsen moved to England from South Africa and played county cricket for a long time before realising that he wouldn't get selected for the England national team and then decided to move to Italy. Apart from Madsen, the side has former Proteas international JJ Smuts and a promising leggie in the form of Crishan Kalugamage, whose parents migrated to Italy from Sri Lanka when he was just 15 years old. The Mosca and Manenti brothers provide a lot of strength to the side. Meanwhile, lanky seamer Thomas Draca is a dark horse. Notably, Draca, who was born in Australia, has been groomed by none other than the great former Aussie pacer Dennis Lillee.
During the WC warm-up games, Italy registered victories in both matches. In the first match against Canada, the side defended their total of 156/4 and won by 10 runs. However, it was the second game against UAE, where the Italians clicked in all three departments. Italy batted first and scored 193/7 on the back of a half-century by Anthony Mosca and a 40-odd by his younger brother Justin. The side then bundled out UAE for a mere score of 81 runs. Grant Stewart and Crishan Kalugamage took three scalps each.
It is worth mentioning here that the qualification of Italian cricket team comes at a time when the country's football is in shambles. The national football side didn't qualify for the FIFA World Cup in 2018 and 2022, and is in danger of missing the 2026 edition as well.
Scotland come into this fixture after facing a heavy 35-run defeat at the hands of the West Indies on the opening day of the World Cup. West Indies batted first and scored a massive 182/5 on the back of a brutal knock from Shimron Hetmyer (64 off 36 balls). The Scots were then bundled out for 147, thanks to a hat-trick and a five-wicket haul from pacer Romario Shepherd. Only skipper Richard Berrington and Tom Bruce scored over the 30-run mark.
Both sides met each other last at Hague during the ICC Men's T20 World Cup Europe Region Final in July 2025. In that game, Italy first scored 167/6, thanks to a firing half-century from opening batter Emilio Gay (who is no longer in the WC squad). Scotland were then restricted to 155/5, giving Italy a victory by 12 runs. Seamer Harry Manenti took all the wickets for Italy in that game as he ended with figures of 5/31.
Will Italy continue their good form and register their first-ever WC win? Join us at 10 AM IST & local time on Monday for the live coverage.
Nobody about a decade ago would have thought that there would come a time when Italy would be playing in a T20 World Cup and competing against the traditional cricket powerhouses in the multi-nation tournament. However, in 2026, they managed to achieve this feat, as on Monday, they will be playing their first-ever T20 WC match against Scotland in a Group C clash at the historic Eden Gardens.
Italy qualified for this WC on the back of a superb performance in the ICC Men's T20 World Cup Europe Region Final 2025 qualifiers. The side finished second, after the Netherlands, with two wins from four games. However, after that tournament, the side didn't get enough match practice in the format and played their next T20I only after six months when they toured UAE to play against Ireland in a three-match series ahead of this World Cup.
In that Ireland series, Italy were defeated by 2-1 but there were some positive signs. Like opening batter Anthony Mosca being the second-highest run scorer of the series and Italian bowlers making lives difficult for the Irish batters in a chase of 118 during the first game.
Most of the side's cricketers have an Aussie or Proteas background while there are players who have some sub-continental heritage as well. The biggest regret for them will be that Joe Burns couldn't make it to India as the batter and the Italian cricket board didn't come to a mutual understanding and hence, no formal contract was signed by him. Notably, it was Burns who led the side during the ICC Men's T20 World Cup Europe Region Final 2025.
Taking over the captaincy from Burns is Wayne Madsen, who has also represented South Africa in field hockey. Madsen moved to England from South Africa and played county cricket for a long time before realising that he wouldn't get selected for the England national team and then decided to move to Italy. Apart from Madsen, the side has former Proteas international JJ Smuts and a promising leggie in the form of Crishan Kalugamage, whose parents migrated to Italy from Sri Lanka when he was just 15 years old. The Mosca and Manenti brothers provide a lot of strength to the side. Meanwhile, lanky seamer Thomas Draca is a dark horse. Notably, Draca, who was born in Australia, has been groomed by none other than the great former Aussie pacer Dennis Lillee.
During the WC warm-up games, Italy registered victories in both matches. In the first match against Canada, the side defended their total of 156/4 and won by 10 runs. However, it was the second game against UAE, where the Italians clicked in all three departments. Italy batted first and scored 193/7 on the back of a half-century by Anthony Mosca and a 40-odd by his younger brother Justin. The side then bundled out UAE for a mere score of 81 runs. Grant Stewart and Crishan Kalugamage took three scalps each.
It is worth mentioning here that the qualification of Italian cricket team comes at a time when the country's football is in shambles. The national football side didn't qualify for the FIFA World Cup in 2018 and 2022, and is in danger of missing the 2026 edition as well.
Scotland come into this fixture after facing a heavy 35-run defeat at the hands of the West Indies on the opening day of the World Cup. West Indies batted first and scored a massive 182/5 on the back of a brutal knock from Shimron Hetmyer (64 off 36 balls). The Scots were then bundled out for 147, thanks to a hat-trick and a five-wicket haul from pacer Romario Shepherd. Only skipper Richard Berrington and Tom Bruce scored over the 30-run mark.
Both sides met each other last at Hague during the ICC Men's T20 World Cup Europe Region Final in July 2025. In that game, Italy first scored 167/6, thanks to a firing half-century from opening batter Emilio Gay (who is no longer in the WC squad). Scotland were then restricted to 155/5, giving Italy a victory by 12 runs. Seamer Harry Manenti took all the wickets for Italy in that game as he ended with figures of 5/31.
Will Italy continue their good form and register their first-ever WC win? Join us at 10 AM IST & local time on Monday for the live coverage.
Scotland Squad: Richie Berrington (c), Tom Bruce, Matthew Henry Cross (wk), Brad Currie, Oliver Davidson, Chris Greaves, Zainullah Ihsan, Michael Jones, Michael Leask, Finlay McCreath, Brandon McMullen, George Munsey, Safyaan Sharif, Mark Watt, Brad Wheal
Italy Squad: Wayne Madsen (c), Justin Mosca, Anthony Mosca, JJ Smuts, Harry Manenti, Ben Manenti, Gian Meade (wk), Grant Stewart, Marcus Campopiano, Jaspreet Singh, Ali Hasan, Crishan Kalugamage, Syed Naqvi, Zain Ali, Thomas Draca