India vs West Indies 52nd T20 WC Match Prediction, Betting Insights and Who will win today’s match between IND vs WI?

India (IND) face West Indies (WI) in the 52nd match of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 at Eden Gardens on February 29th, and there’s no dressing it up — this is a straight shootout for a semi-final spot, with both teams sitting on one win and one loss in the Super 8 stage. West Indies are no pushover and their batting can hurt any side in the world on a good day, but we’re backing India to come through this one. They know these conditions, they’ve been here before in big moments, and this squad has the experience and the balance that West Indies simply can’t match across all eleven players. The loss to South Africa stung, but they bounced back hard against Zimbabwe and that form looks to be carrying into this week. Eden Gardens will feel like a home game for them, and that matters in a match this big. India are our pick to win and seal their place in the final four. Let’s break down expert analysis, betting tips, team performance, pitch report, and IND vs WI 52nd T20 WC Match Prediction. Who will win today’s T20 World Cup match?

IND

52nd Match

T20 World Cup 2026

WI

Match: India vs West Indies | 52nd Match

Series: T20 World Cup 2026

Date: 29/02/2026

Time: 07:00 PM IST & Local, 01:30 PM GMT

Venue: Eden Gardens, Kolkata

Streaming: Jio Hotstar and Star Sports Network

Team Performance

India Preview

India did what they had to do against Zimbabwe. After the South Africa defeat left a few questions hanging in the air, they came out and posted 256-4 before wrapping up a 72-run win — the kind of performance that rebuilds confidence and restores belief heading into the knockout rounds.

The batting is where India genuinely excite going into this one. Abhishek Sharma has been waiting to find his best in this tournament, and that 55 off 30 balls against Zimbabwe felt like a man finally letting himself go. He’s difficult to contain when playing like that — hard to set a field for, hard to slow down. Samson opening alongside him only adds to the threat because West Indies can’t afford to focus on just one of them when both are capable of taking a game away inside six overs.

Ishan Kishan has been one of the more consistent performers in this tournament and deserves recognition for it. Sitting on 214 runs at a strike rate of 186 across six games, he reads the game smartly and picks his moments well against both pace and spin — a batter very much in form at the right time.

What makes India dangerous as a complete batting unit is the depth they carry beyond the top three. Suryakumar and Tilak hold things together through the middle, and then Dube, Pandya, and Axar arriving at the death presents a real challenge for any bowling attack. West Indies will know that even a decent powerplay doesn’t guarantee safety against this lineup.

The bowling looks equally settled. Bumrah peaking at knockout time is a significant advantage for India — he consistently troubles top-order batters with the new ball and remains equally effective at the death. Arshdeep alongside him gives India a genuine powerplay threat from both ends. Axar and Varun then take over in the middle phase, and those two spinners operating in tandem on a surface with some turn could prove to be the decisive factor. Hardik covering as the sixth option rounds off what is a well-balanced and experienced attack.

India head into this one with momentum, a settled squad, and match-winners across both departments — a combination that will be difficult for most sides left in this tournament to match.

WI Preview

West Indies will be hurting after that South Africa result. Watching the Proteas chase down 177 in just over 16 overs is a difficult thing to process as a team, and it exposed some real vulnerabilities in their bowling. That said, clawing their way from 83-7 to a competitive total showed character, and that kind of fight-back mentality should not be overlooked.

What makes West Indies genuinely dangerous in this tournament is how well their aggressive style suits Indian conditions. They don’t shy away from taking on the big shots early, and on subcontinental pitches where boundaries matter, that approach can be devastating. Add to that the fact they’ve already played two games at Eden Gardens this World Cup, and they arrive knowing the surface, the dimensions, and how to pace an innings there better than most sides left in the competition.

Shai Hope is the anchor around whom everything is built. His 185 runs across six matches at a strike rate of 139 speak to a batter who is both composed and dangerous — he doesn’t just occupy the crease, he scores at a rate that keeps the scoreboard moving and forces the opposition to plan around him.

Behind Hope sits a middle order that genuinely frightens bowling attacks. Powell, Rutherford, and Hetmyer are all capable of changing the shape of a game with just a few balls. Rutherford and Hetmyer have been in particularly strong touch, scoring 221 and 161 runs respectively, and their IPL experience in Indian conditions has clearly sharpened their game at this level.

Perhaps the most underrated aspect of West Indies’ batting is what comes after. Romario Shepherd and Jason Holder at seven and eight is a luxury most sides don’t have. Holder’s 49 off 31 and Shepherd’s unbeaten 52 off 37 against South Africa weren’t cameos — they were match-shaping innings, and India’s bowlers will be well aware of the threat they carry deep into the order.

With the ball, Holder leads the seam attack with eight wickets to his name and a knack for picking up wickets during the death overs through smart variations and well-disguised slower balls. Akeal Hosein and Gudakesh Motie provide the spin balance, and both have the ability to put India’s middle order under real pressure through the middle phase if they get the conditions right.

West Indies come into this with questions to answer after the South Africa game, but the talent is there across all departments. On their day, and on a ground they already know well, they are more than capable of causing a serious upset.

IND vs WI Today’s Match Weather Condition

IND vs WI Today’s Pitch Report & Toss Condition

Eden Gardens has given us five matches in this World Cup already, and if there’s one thing the surface here does consistently, it’s reward batters who get in early. The powerplay has been a productive phase throughout — good pace, decent carry, and fielding restrictions that batting sides have looked to exploit from ball one. But it doesn’t stay that way. Once the spinners come on through the middle overs, the surface grips a little more and run-scoring slows down considerably. Teams have generally finished between 170 and 185 batting first here, though the odd side has pushed past 200 when their top order clicked.

The toss matters in a game like this. India will be eyeing 180 to 200 if they get first knock, while West Indies, with the depth of hitting they carry, will back themselves to go a touch further — somewhere in the 190 to 210, if conditions allow. Whichever side bats first, surviving that tricky middle phase against spin will be just as important as the powerplay blazing.

IND vs WI Today’s Match Prediction and Analysis

Today’s match predictions are leaning towards India and honestly it is not hard to see why. Their bowling attack is arguably the most complete in this tournament and Eden Gardens is a ground where they have played plenty of cricket and know exactly how to win. West Indies will bring the fight — their batting firepower is real and should never be taken lightly — but India have too much riding on this one to let it slip at their own backyard. They are the more experienced side in knockout situations and the conditions here are set up to play right into the hands of their spinners through the middle phase. We are giving India a 70% chance of winning this match and backing them to control the key phases and seal their spot in the semi-finals.

IND vs WI – Probable Playing XI (T20 WC 52nd Match 2026)

India Predicted Playing XI:

Sanju Samson(w), Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan, Suryakumar Yadav(c), Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Varun Chakaravarthy, Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh

West Indies Predicted Playing XI:

Brandon King, Shai Hope(w/c), Shimron Hetmyer, Rovman Powell, Sherfane Rutherford, Roston Chase, Romario Shepherd, Jason Holder, Shamar, Matthew Forde, Gudakesh Motie

Also, check live T20 WC match betting odds on trusted cricket betting sites.

IND vs WI Betting Tips – 52nd Match, T20 World Cup 2026

• Who will win the toss Today: India are slightly favoured to win the toss here, and with heavy evening dew expected at Eden Gardens, chasing looks the preferred option on this ground — meaning both Suryakumar Yadav and Shai Hope are highly likely to bowl first if they call it right, making the toss a potentially significant factor in how this match unfolds.
• Top Batter Performance: For India, Abhishek Sharma and Ishan Kishan are the standout picks — Sharma is coming off a blistering 55 off 30 balls against Zimbabwe and looks in the kind of form that can hurt any attack, while Kishan has been India’s most consistent batter throughout the tournament with 214 runs to his name, and Suryakumar Yadav’s stellar record at Eden Gardens makes him another name to watch closely. For West Indies, Shimron Hetmyer leads their run charts with 221 runs and is their most dangerous match-winner, while Nicholas Pooran and Shai Hope will also be looking to take full advantage of what should be a batting-friendly surface at Eden Gardens.
• Top Bowler Performance: India, Jasprit Bumrah remains the most reliable bowling pick in the side — clinical in the death overs and consistently capable of dismantling power-hitters at the highest level — while Varun Chakravarthy leads India’s wicket-takers in this edition with 11 scalps, though his recent form has come under some scrutiny heading into this one. For West Indies, Gudakesh Motie has been their standout bowler with 10 wickets so far, and Jason Holder and Romario Shepherd provide genuine threat with their ability to pick up wickets through the middle and death overs when it matters most.
• Today’s T20 match betting tips: India come in as clear match winner picks at odds of around 1.30, and the reasoning is straightforward — superior squad balance combined with a home advantage at a venue where they have won seven of their last eight T20Is makes them difficult to oppose. Expect plenty of entertainment in the stands too, with both batting lineups carrying serious hitting power, the total sixes market looks appealing over 18.5 as experts are anticipating a run-fest throughout. A par score of 180 to 200 batting first feels about right on this surface, so back yourself for a high-scoring contest when these two sides meet at Eden Gardens.