West Indies enter the Super 8 stage of the 2026 ICC T20 World Cup as one of the most dangerous teams in the tournament. The two-time champions topped Group C with four wins from four matches. They did not lose a single game in the group stage.
West Indies won the T20 World Cup in 2012 and 2016. A third title would tie them with India as the most successful team in the format’s history. They have the batting power, the bowling depth, and the experience to chase that target.
Under captain Shai Hope and head coach Daren Sammy, West Indies have looked like a transformed side. They beat Scotland by 35 runs, thumped England by 30 runs, brushed Nepal aside by 9 wickets, and closed the group stage with a 42-run win over Italy. Three of those four matches saw them bowl out the opposition inside 20 overs.
West Indies now face Zimbabwe, South Africa, and India in Group 1 of the Super 8s. All three matches take place in India. The Caribbean side has already played at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai during the group stage and is well acquainted with these conditions.
West Indies’ Strongest XI At A Glance
Here is the strongest playing 11 that West Indies can field:
| Position | Player | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brandon King | Opener |
| 2 | Shai Hope (C / WK) | Opener / Wicketkeeper |
| 3 | Shimron Hetmyer | No. 3 Batter (Middle Order) |
| 4 | Rovman Powell | Power Hitter (Middle Order) |
| 5 | Sherfane Rutherford | Finisher |
| 6 | Jason Holder | Pace All-rounder |
| 7 | Roston Chase | Spin All-rounder |
| 8 | Romario Shepherd | Pace All-rounder |
| 9 | Akeal Hosein | Left-arm Spinner |
| 10 | Gudakesh Motie | Left-arm Spinner |
| 11 | Shamar Joseph | Pace Bowler |
This XI gives West Indies everything they need. They have explosive batting at the top, three genuine all-rounders in the middle, and a bowling attack with both pace and spin. The batting goes deep to number eight, which means their top-order hitters can play with total freedom.
West Indies Full Squad for T20 World Cup 2026
Shai Hope (C), Shimron Hetmyer, Johnson Charles, Roston Chase, Matthew Forde, Jason Holder, Akeal Hosein, Shamar Joseph, Brandon King, Gudakesh Motie, Rovman Powell, Sherfane Rutherford, Quentin Sampson, Jayden Seales, Romario Shepherd.
Super 8: The Road Ahead
West Indies sit in Group 1 for the Super 8 stage. This is a loaded group with three strong opponents.
West Indies’ Super 8 Group 1 Opponents
- Zimbabwe (Unbeaten Group B Toppers)
- South Africa (2024 Runners-up)
- India (Defending Champions and Co-hosts)
West Indies’ Super 8 Schedule
All of West Indies’ Super 8 matches take place in India:
| Date | Opponent | Venue | Time (IST) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 23 (Sun) | Zimbabwe | Mumbai (Wankhede Stadium) | 7:00 PM |
| Feb 26 (Thu) | South Africa | Ahmedabad (Narendra Modi Stadium) | 7:00 PM |
| Mar 1 (Sun) | India | Kolkata (Eden Gardens) | 7:00 PM |
Here is a detailed breakdown of each player in West Indies’ strongest playing XI.
1. Brandon King (Opener)
Brandon King opens the batting and gives West Indies a solid start at the top. The 31-year-old right-hander is a reliable presence in the powerplay who can play both cautious and aggressive cricket depending on the match situation.
Against Scotland, King scored 35 off a composed innings and put on a 54-run opening stand with Shai Hope. He reads the game well and rotates the strike when boundaries are hard to find.
King has also led the West Indies in T20Is in Hope’s absence, which shows the trust the team management places in him. His experience and calm head at the top of the order allow the big hitters below him to play their natural game.
2. Shai Hope (Captain / Wicketkeeper)
Shai Hope is the captain and wicketkeeper of this West Indies side. He took over the T20I captaincy from Rovman Powell in 2025 and has led from the front in this tournament.
Hope scored 155 runs in the group stage, which made him the top scorer for West Indies. His best knock came against Italy, where he hit 75 off 46 balls to hold the innings together when wickets fell around him. Against Nepal, he scored an unbeaten 61 and guided the chase with authority.
He keeps wicket, which covers two roles in one slot. He opens the batting with King and provides the stability that every top order needs. Hope is a smart cricketer who reads conditions quickly and adapts his approach.
3. Shimron Hetmyer (No. 3 Batter)
Shimron Hetmyer bats at number three and is the most explosive left-hander in this West Indies lineup. Head coach Daren Sammy moved him up to this position ahead of the tournament, and the decision has paid off handsomely.
Against Scotland, Hetmyer smashed 64 off just 36 balls to rescue West Indies from a sluggish start. He hit the fastest fifty by a West Indian at a T20 World Cup off just 22 balls. He was also the leading six-hitter in the tournament during the group stage.
Hetmyer plays spin and pace with equal ease. He uses his feet well against spinners and has the raw power to clear any boundary. His fielding has also improved. Against Scotland, he took a spectacular running catch that became one of the highlights of the group stage.
Against Nepal, he came in at number three and scored 46, putting on a 91-run partnership with Hope off just 59 balls. When Hetmyer fires, West Indies are nearly impossible to contain.
4. Rovman Powell (Power Hitter)
Rovman Powell is one of the most feared power hitters in world cricket. The 32-year-old right-hander bats at number four and can clear boundaries at will once he gets going.
Powell shared an 81-run partnership with Hetmyer against Scotland off just 37 balls. He scored 24 and kept the pressure on the opposition bowlers throughout his stay. Against England, he also played a useful cameo before Adil Rashid dismissed him.
He previously captained the West Indies T20I side and brings leadership experience to the middle order. Powell is also an athletic fielder who covers ground quickly. His catch on the boundary against Scotland showed his commitment, even though he hurt his shoulder in the process.
5. Sherfane Rutherford (Finisher)
Sherfane Rutherford is West Indies’ designated finisher and one of the best in the business. He bats at number five and thrives in the death overs when the team needs quick runs.
Against England, Rutherford played a career-best unbeaten 76 off 42 balls. He hit seven sixes in that innings and single-handedly lifted West Indies from 55 for 3 to a commanding total of 196. That knock won him the Player of the Match award.
Rutherford’s ability to hit sixes to all parts of the ground makes him a nightmare for death bowlers. He picks his spots smartly, rotates the strike in between the big hits, and rarely gives his wicket away when the team needs him most.
6. Jason Holder (Pace All-rounder)
Jason Holder brings world-class experience and skill to this West Indies side. The tall all-rounder bowls accurate medium-fast deliveries and can score quick runs with the bat in the lower middle order.
Against Nepal, Holder took 4 for 27, including two wickets in the powerplay that set the tone for a dominant bowling display. He reached 100 T20I wickets during the match against Scotland, which shows his longevity and consistency in this format.
Holder also contributed with the bat against England, where he shared a 61-run stand with Rutherford and hit four sixes in a quick-fire 33 off 17 balls. He uses the short ball well against tail-enders and bowls tight lines at the death.
His experience as a former West Indies Test captain adds a calm, tactical presence to the team. He is the kind of cricketer who lifts performances around him.
7. Roston Chase (Spin All-rounder)
Roston Chase is the most experienced spin-bowling option in this West Indies team. He bowls off-spin and bats in the lower middle order. His dual role gives the captain tactical flexibility.
Against England, Chase picked up two key wickets, including the dismissal of Jos Buttler. He also took a stunning diving catch at deep square leg to seal the win. His economy rate through the middle overs was excellent.
Chase provides control when the other bowlers are going for runs. He rarely bowls bad balls and forces batters into risky shots. With the bat, he can hold an innings together or accelerate when needed. He is the reliable all-rounder every squad wants.
8. Romario Shepherd (Pace All-rounder)
Romario Shepherd is a genuine match-winner with the ball. He bowls right-arm fast-medium and has the ability to rip through batting lineups in short bursts.
Against Scotland, Shepherd took 5 for 20, which included a hat-trick and four wickets in five balls. It was his second T20I hat-trick after his effort against Bangladesh in October 2025. He tore through Scotland’s middle and lower order to close the match.
Shepherd missed the Nepal game with a minor niggle but is expected to return for the Super 8 matches. He bowls at the death with confidence, uses slower balls and yorkers well, and can bat usefully in the lower order. When fit, he is one of the first names on the team sheet.
9. Akeal Hosein (Left-arm Spinner)
Akeal Hosein is West Indies’ powerplay spin weapon. The left-arm orthodox spinner bowls with guile and deception in the first six overs, which is unusual for a spinner in T20 cricket.
Hosein picks up early wickets by skidding the ball onto the stumps and using subtle changes of pace. Against Nepal, he struck in his first over to remove Kushal Bhurtel. He has been a consistent wicket-taker for West Indies across the group stage.
His economy rate in the tournament has been tight, and he creates pressure from one end while the pace bowlers attack from the other. Hosein is a match-up specialist who thrives against right-handed batters.
10. Gudakesh Motie (Left-arm Spinner)
Gudakesh Motie operates as the second left-arm spinner in this West Indies XI. He bowls in the middle overs and focuses on picking up wickets when batters try to accelerate.
Against England, Motie took 3 for 33 and broke the back of their chase. He dismissed Harry Brook with a clever piece of bowling, catching the England captain off his own delivery. He also had Powell take a brilliant boundary catch to account for Jamie Overton.
Motie and Hosein give West Indies a twin left-arm spin attack that can strangle any batting lineup in the middle overs. On Indian pitches that offer turn, this pair could be the difference between winning and losing.
11. Shamar Joseph (Pace Bowler)
Shamar Joseph is the youngest member of this West Indies pace attack. He bowls with genuine speed and aggression, using the short ball to unsettle batters.
Against Italy, Joseph took 4 for 30 and broke the backbone of their middle order with hostile short-pitched bowling. He also picked up a wicket in each of the other group matches, showing his consistency across different conditions.
Joseph returned to the squad after recovering from an injury earlier in the year. His pace, bounce, and attitude make him a handful for any batting lineup. He complements Holder and Shepherd well and gives the captain a genuine strike option with the new ball.
Key Players On The Bench
West Indies also have strong options on the bench. Johnson Charles adds batting firepower as a reserve opener. Matthew Forde has been one of the standout bowlers of the tournament with his new-ball skills. He took 3 for 19 against Italy and 3 for 10 in another match. Quentin Sampson earned his maiden international call-up after a breakout Caribbean Premier League season. Jayden Seales offers swing bowling variety.
Forde, in particular, could force his way into the starting XI depending on conditions. He has been West Indies’ best bowler in the powerplay, picking up early wickets in almost every match. The selectors face a pleasant dilemma: too many quality options to fit into 11 spots.
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Final Word: West Indies Enter The Super 8 As Title Contenders
West Indies have all the ingredients for a deep run in this tournament. Their batting lineup has firepower at every position. Hetmyer, Powell, and Rutherford can score at over 10 runs per over when they get going. Hope provides the composure at the top.
Their bowling attack is equally impressive. Holder, Shepherd, and Joseph offer pace and bounce. Hosein and Motie give them two left-arm spinners who can strangle scoring in the middle overs. Chase adds off-spin depth and extra batting.
The all-rounder depth is the team’s biggest advantage. Holder, Chase, and Shepherd all bat and bowl, which means West Indies can bat deep to number eight while still fielding five frontline bowling options.
West Indies won the 2016 T20 World Cup at Eden Gardens in Kolkata, where they play their final Super 8 match against India. That venue holds special memories for the Caribbean fans. If this XI plays to its full potential, West Indies will be very hard to stop. A third T20 World Cup title is within their reach.
