The ICC T20 World Cup 2026 warm-up matches have entered their final preparation phase, and teams are now getting their last chance to adjust to conditions before the mega event begins. On the opening day of the warm-ups, Canada and Italy will face each other in Match 3 of the schedule.
This contest will be played at the iconic MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai, where spin usually plays a major role. For Canada, this match is extremely important as they will play two World Cup games in Chennai and need to understand these conditions quickly. Italy, on the other hand, are set to make history as this will be their first-ever appearance in a T20 World Cup, making this game a huge learning opportunity for them.
CAN vs ITA Match Details
| Match Info | Details |
|---|---|
| Tournament | ICC T20 World Cup 2026 Warm-up Matches |
| Match | Canada vs Italy, Match 3 |
| Date | Monday, 2 February 2026 |
| Time | 7:00 PM IST |
| Venue | MA Chidambaram Stadium |
Match Preview
Canada
Canada qualified for the T20 World Cup by winning the ICC T20 World Cup America Qualifier, where they defeated Bermuda in the final. They have several experienced players in their squad and will look to rotate the team to give everyone game time before the main tournament.
Key Strengths
- Experienced middle order
- Good spin options
- Players familiar with subcontinent conditions
Italy
Italy are making their T20 World Cup debut, which itself is a historic moment. Recently, they played a T20I series against Ireland and, despite losing the series, they managed to win the final match — a confidence booster before this warm-up encounter.
Key Strengths
- Strong recent form
- All-rounders who can adapt
- Fearless approach
Head-to-Head Record
| Teams | Matches Won |
|---|---|
| Canada | 0 |
| Italy | 0 |
| No Result | 0 |
This will be the first-ever T20 meeting between the two sides.
Recent Form (Last 5 Matches)
| Team | Last 5 Matches |
|---|---|
| Canada | W, W, W, W, NR |
| Italy | W, W, W, W, W |
Weather & Pitch Report – Chennai
Weather
- Temperature: 22–24°C
- Humidity: 70–80%
- Rain: 5% chance
Pitch
- Traditional Chepauk surface
- Slows down as match progresses
- Spinners get good assistance
- Batting becomes difficult in second innings
MA Chidambaram Stadium – T20I Stats
| Record | Stats |
|---|---|
| Total Matches | 10 |
| Bat First Wins | 6 |
| Bat Second Wins | 3 |
| No Result | 1 |
| Average 1st Innings Score | 151 |
| Highest Score | 189/4 |
| Lowest Score | 80/10 |
Predicted Playing XI
Canada
- Dilpreet Bajwa (c)
- Navneet Dhaliwal
- Nicholas Kirton
- Ravinderpal Singh
- Harsh Thaker
- Dilon Heyliger
- Saad Bin Zafar
- Kaleem Sana
- Yuvraj Samra
- Shivam Sharma
- Shreyas Movva (wk)
Italy
- Wayne Madsen (c)
- Marcus Campopiano
- Gian Piero Meade
- JJ Smuts
- Ali Hasan
- Crishan Jorge Kalugamage
- Harry Manenti
- Benjamin Manenti
- Jaspreet Singh
- Grant Stewart
- Thomas Draca
Dream11 Fantasy Tips
Small League (Safe Picks)
Captain / Vice-Captain Options
- Dilpreet Bajwa
- Wayne Madsen
- Navneet Dhaliwal
- Gian Piero Meade
Grand League (Risky Picks)
Captain / Vice-Captain Options
- JJ Smuts
- Saad Bin Zafar
- Nicholas Kirton
- Harry Manenti
Match Prediction – Who Will Win?
The Chennai conditions will be completely new for both teams, making adaptability the key factor. Winning the toss and bowling first could provide a slight advantage due to the slow nature of the pitch.
Canada bring more experience at this level, especially in ICC tournaments, and have players who are used to playing against stronger international sides. Italy are in good form, but adjusting quickly to spin-heavy conditions may be a challenge.
Predicted Winner: Canada
Injury Update
| Team | Status |
|---|---|
| Italy | No injury updates |
| Canada | No injury updates |
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