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Is rain really expected for India vs West Indies T20 World Cup match? What Kolkata’s latest weather forecast suggests

A win is all India need to reach the semis, where they will face England next week. But could rain play spoilsport in this must-win West Indies game in Kolkata?

Updated on: Mar 1, 2026, 07:59:47 IST
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The semifinal line-up of the 2026 T20 World Cup awaits its final entrant. England and New Zealand have advanced from Group 1, while South Africa qualified from Group 2. The picture will be complete on Saturday when defending champions India take on West Indies at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata in what has effectively been billed as a virtual quarterfinal.

India's Axar Patel, Ishan Kishan and Varun Chakravarthy during a practice session at Eden Gardens on Saturday (HT_PRINT)
India's Axar Patel, Ishan Kishan and Varun Chakravarthy during a practice session at Eden Gardens on Saturday (HT_PRINT)

India suffered their first setback of the tournament last Sunday, when South Africa handed them their heaviest defeat in T20 World Cup history, a 76-run thrashing in Ahmedabad. The loss pushed India to the brink after they had cruised through Group A unbeaten. However, following a period of introspection, the team bounced back with a win over Zimbabwe. With the high-flying West Indies also stunned by the Proteas, India now have a clear opportunity to seal their semifinal berth.

ALSO READ: Sanath Jayasuriya moves to resign as Sri Lanka head coach after T20 World Cup failure; SLC eyes foreign replacement

A win is all India need to reach the last four, where they will face England next week. But could rain play spoilsport in this must-win clash in Kolkata?

Kolkata weather report for India vs West Indies

The city witnessed an unexpected spell of morning rain earlier this week, briefly ending a prolonged dry stretch. However, Sunday’s forecast looks ideal for cricket, with virtually no chance of rain.

According to AccuWeather, clear skies are expected in the evening with around 17 percent cloud cover. The temperature at toss time is likely to hover around a pleasant 27°C, gradually dipping to 24°C as the night progresses. Humidity is expected to rise from 46 percent to approximately 69 percent, but the probability of precipitation remains at zero throughout the match window.

What if the match is abandoned?

While forecasts suggest minimal risk of rain, an abandonment would result in both teams sharing a point. In that scenario, West Indies would progress to the semifinals ahead of India due to a superior net run rate.

Eden Gardens pitch report

West Indies head coach Darren Sammy observed during his pre-match press conference that the surface appears dry, although a hint of green was visible on the eve of the game.

Traditionally, Eden Gardens has been batting-friendly, and this World Cup has seen several high-scoring contests at the venue. However, all five matches played here so far have been day fixtures, leaving some uncertainty about how the pitch may behave under lights.

India hold a perfect four-from-four T20I record against West Indies in Kolkata. However, they have lost three of their four World Cup meetings against the Caribbean side, with their only victory coming in the 2014 edition in Mirpur, when Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli guided them to a seven-wicket win. Overall, India lead the head-to-head 19-11 in 30 T20 encounters.

  • Aratrick Mondal
    ABOUT THE AUTHOR
    Aratrick Mondal

    Aratrick Mondal is a senior sports journalist based in New Delhi. In his eight years as a sports writer, Aratrick has worked at leading media organisations, including The Times of India, Times Now, Zee, India TV and currently works at a senior position at Hindustan Times Digital. He writes on cricket, football, pickleball and tennis, among other sports. He has extensively covered India's evolving cricket landscape, the country's new-found love for private leagues such as Indian Pickleball League (IPBL), Ultimate Kho Kho League (UKK), Rugby Premier League (RPL) and several tennis leagues. He has closely covered emerging sports such as pickleball. His coverage of major franchise events lends an atmospheric flavor to his ground reports. His recent story on how SA20 (the domestic cricket league of South Africa) had opened up its grounds to create a carnival-like fan experience garnered major international attention, including appreciation from major cricketers. Tennis holds a special place in his heart. Aratrick has built a strong niche in analytical tennis stories—ranging from Grand Slam narratives and player profiles to tactical breakdowns and ranking trends. His long-form features often decode grand slams, career highs and lows of tennis greats and the upward trajectory of emerging stars. He also closely follows India's tennis landscape, having covered the Davis Cup, Bengaluru Open and Tata Open, among others. His reporting is backed by strong data capabilities, with hands-on experience using tools like Python, Tableau, and Excel to produce visually rich, insight-led stories. This data-first approach enhances accuracy, transparency, and trust. In leadership roles, he has managed editorial shifts, overseen homepage strategy, optimised SEO workflows, and mentored peers to deliver consistent, high-traffic journalism. He recently won the HT DigiStar award for the third quarter of financial year 2025-26. Aratrick is trusted for his balanced reportage, sound sourcing, and ability to translate complex sporting events into engaging narratives that speak to a wide audience. He believes sports is for everyone, not just for the enthusiasts and has a unique ability to bring people together - just like the sumptuous meals you'll often find him cooking on a weekend evening.Read More

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