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In Group C encounter of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, the West Indies face off against Nepal at the iconic Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. Match 25 of the tournament carries significant weight for both sides: a win for the West Indies virtually guarantees them a spot in the Super 8, while for Nepal, it is a desperate fight for survival after a crushing defeat to Italy.
With the humidity of Mumbai hanging over the pitch and the morning moisture promising early movement, West Indies captain Shai Hope won the toss and elected to bowl. However, the biggest talking point of the morning wasn’t just the toss, but the absence of a key player who has been a match-winner for the Caribbean side throughout this campaign.
Here’s why Romario Shepherd is missing today’s action
Fans were surprised to see Romario Shepherd‘s name missing from the team sheet today. Shepherd has been in blistering form, even claiming a sensational hat-trick earlier in the tournament against Scotland. During the toss, Hope clarified that the all-rounder is sidelined due to a slight niggle.
“Shepherd’s been struggling a little bit. We just want to make sure precautionary measures are being put in place. It’s important for us to ensure we cover all our bases and hit all our straps as we look toward the later stages of the tournament,” Hope explained during the toss.
Given the gruelling schedule of the 2026 T20 World Cup, the West Indies management has opted for a safety first approach. Resting Shepherd today allows him time to recover fully for the Super 8 fixtures, ensuring their primary death-overs specialist and lower-order power-hitter isn’t risked against a struggling Nepal side. In his absence, the young and versatile Matthew Forde has been drafted into the XI, providing Hope with a similar pace option and handy lower-order batting.
WI vs NEP: Playing XI of both the teams
Nepal: Kushal Bhurtel, Aasif Sheikh (wk), Rohit Paudel (c), Dipendra Singh Airee, Aarif Sheikh, Lokesh Bam, Gulsan Jha, Sompal Kami, Karan KC, Nandan Yadav, Sandeep Lamichhane
West Indies: Brandon King, Shai Hope (wk/c), Shimron Hetmyer, Roston Chase, Sherfane Rutherford, Rovman Powell, Jason Holder, Matthew Forde, Akeal Hosein, Gudakesh Motie, Shamar Joseph
