Mon Feb 23 13:10:00 UTC 2026: Headline: Zimbabwe Opts to Bowl First Against West Indies in Super Eight Clash

The Story:
Zimbabwe captain Sikandar Raza won the toss and elected to bowl first in their Super Eight match against the West Indies at the Wankhede Stadium. West Indies captain Shai Hope indicated he would also have chosen to bowl if he had won the toss. The West Indies welcomed back Romario Shepherd from injury, replacing Roston Chase, while Zimbabwe’s Richard Ngarava returned to the team in place of Wellington Masakadza.

Key Points:

  • Zimbabwe won the toss and chose to bowl.
  • West Indies would have also preferred to bowl first.
  • Romario Shepherd returned to the West Indies lineup, replacing Roston Chase.
  • Richard Ngarava replaced Wellington Masakadza in the Zimbabwe team.
  • This is only the fifth T20I meeting between Zimbabwe and West Indies.

Key Takeaways:

  • The decision to bowl first suggests both captains believe conditions at the Wankhede Stadium favor chasing a target.
  • The team changes indicate both sides are looking to strengthen their seam bowling options.
  • The return of key players from injury provides a boost to both squads.
  • The limited history between the two teams in T20Is adds an element of unpredictability to the match.

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