<p><em>The Caribbean powerhouse has already sealed qualification while Italy bow out of the tournament. But can the Italians produce one final upset on the big stage?</em></p> <p>West Indies have steamrolled through Group C with three wins from three, qualifying for the Super 8s with a net run rate of 1.820. Now they face an Italian side already eliminated from the tournament, making this a dead rubber for both teams, though the Caribbean outfit will want to maintain momentum heading into the knockout rounds.</p> <ol> <li>&nbsp;Competition: ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026, Group C (Match 37)</li> <li>Venue: Eden Gardens, Kolkata, India</li> <li>Date: Wednesday, February 19, 2026</li> <li>Start Time: 4:30 PM AEDT (Wednesday)</li> </ol> <h2>West Indies vs Italy Form and Head to Head</h2> <p>This is the first-ever <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/cricket/icc-mens-t20-world-cup/west-indies-v-italy-10166163">T20I meeting between these two nations</a>, so there's no head-to-head history to draw from. That said, the form guide tells the story clearly enough.</p> <p>West Indies have been the standout team in Group C, posting 182/5 against Scotland, 196/6 against England, and then chasing down Nepal's 134 losing just one wicket in 15.2 overs. They've averaged 186 with the bat while restricting opponents to 153.</p> <p>Italy's campaign has been a mixed bag. They were bowled out for 123 by Nepal in their opener before bouncing back with a 10-wicket win in the reverse fixture. Against England, they posted 178 but couldn't defend it after conceding 78 runs in the final five overs.</p> <h2>Dead Rubber, Live Danger for Italy's Bowlers</h2> <p>With qualification already sealed, West Indies may rotate their lineup, but the depth in this squad means any XI they field will be formidable. Shai Hope has been in sensational touch with 1,535 T20I runs at a strike rate of 137.05, while Shimron Hetmyer and Johnson Charles have provided explosive contributions throughout the group stage. Jason Holder's all-round presence gives them balance regardless of team changes.</p> <p>Italy will lean heavily on the experience of 42-year-old captain Wayne Madsen and former South Africa international JJ Smuts. The Manenti brothers, Ben and Harry, add familiarity to their bowling unit, but containing West Indies' power hitters on a flat Eden Gardens surface is an entirely different challenge to anything they've faced before.</p> <h2>West Indies vs Italy Betting Markets</h2> <p>The two-time T20 World Cup champions are unsurprisingly heavy favourites here, and it's difficult to build a case for the Italians based on what we've seen in the group stage. You'll find the full range of <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/cricket">cricket betting odds</a> for this one over at Sportsbet, including margin of victory and player performance props.</p> <p>Beyond the match result, the margin market looks interesting given West Indies' convincing wins of 35 runs over Scotland and 30 runs over England. Italy's inconsistent batting, from 123 all out against Nepal to 178 against England, suggests they could struggle to post a competitive total against a well-rounded Caribbean attack featuring Akeal Hosein's left-arm spin and Holder's death-overs expertise.</p> <h2>West Indies vs Italy Prediction: Our Pick</h2> <p>The Windies should have far too much firepower for Italy in this one, and we fancy them to win by a comfortable margin of 20 runs or more.</p> <p>West Indies have won their three group matches by 35 runs, 30 runs, and 9 wickets respectively. Their bowling unit has consistently restricted opponents below par on surfaces that have been good for batting, while their top order has set imposing totals. Italy's best batting performance of the tournament (178 against England) still wasn't enough to win, and their attack leaked 78 runs in just five overs during that match. Eden Gardens tends to favour the stronger batting lineup, with the average T20I first innings score sitting around 142. Dew could play a factor in the evening session, but regardless of conditions, the gulf in quality and experience points firmly in one direction.&nbsp;</p> <p>The only risk is West Indies resting key players with the Super 8s in mind, but even their bench boasts more international pedigree than Italy's starting XI. For those looking to follow the action as it unfolds, <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/live-betting/cricket">live cricket betting</a> offers opportunities to react to the match dynamics in real time.</p> <h2>Keep Reading</h2> <ul> <li><a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/cricket/icc-mens-cricket-world-cup">Your complete guide to betting on the Cricket World Cup</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/huddle/cricket/news/cricket-scoring-explained">Overs, wickets, and runs — how cricket scoring actually works</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/huddle/cricket/news/top-ten-richest-cricketers-in-the-world">The ten cricketers who've turned runs into riches</a></li> </ul>