Scotland all-rounder Michael Leask brought out his inner Virat Kohli during their T20 World Cup 2026 clash with Italy at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata on Monday, February 9. Michael Leask was on full of fire, lighting up the group match with his emotions and raw intensity.
Michael Leask ignites Scotland’s T20 World Cup 2026 charge
The big turning point came in the 14th over just before the drinks break in Kolkata. Ben Manenti was batting really well and looked ready to take the game away from Scotland. Oliver Davidson bowled a full delivery, and Manenti went for a big shot, trying to clear extra cover.
But the timing was not right, as the ball went straighter instead of sailing over the fielders and lost power in the air. Michael Jones, who was stationed at long-off, ran quickly and took a clean catch under pressure. It was a massive wicket because Manenti had already scored 52 runs from just 31 balls, with the help of five fours and a six, and Italy had real momentum at that point.
Your daily dose of cricket!
Read Also: Italy rocked by horror injury as Wayne Madsen breaks shoulder on T20 World Cup debut
Michael Leask goes full Virat Kohli mode after big wicket
The moment the catch was taken, the Scotland players exploded in celebration. The wicket lifted the entire team; Oliver Davidson celebrated the crucial breakthrough confidently. Then came the moment that grabbed everyone’s attention during the T20 World Cup 2026 clash.
Michael Leask, full of adrenaline, showed raw passion and aggressive emotion as he gave Manenti a fiery send-off that instantly reminded fans of Virat Kohli’s intense on-field style. Leask’s aggressive celebration instantly went viral, with fans comparing his attitude to Indian legend Kohli’s famous pumped-up reactions on the field.
— Drizzyat12Kennyat8 (@45kennyat7PM) February 9, 2026
A heated send off by Leask for Harry Manenti. 👀 pic.twitter.com/OwLkGIpbZl
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) February 9, 2026
Scotland dominate Italy at Eden Gardens
Meanwhile, Eden Gardens witnessed a one-sided affair as Scotland thrashed Italy by 73 runs in the 7th match of the ongoing T20 World Cup 2026. Scotland came out with clear intent and delivered a stunning performance with Michael Leask leading the charge in unforgettable fashion.
The Scottish batters went hard from the start and never slowed down, finishing with a massive 207 for 4 in their 20 overs. It was the first time any Associate team crossed the 200-run mark in a T20 World Cup match. The final overs belonged completely to Leask.
Read Also: Scotland send warning by rewriting T20 World Cup history
Leask’s late fireworks and record spell seal the match
Coming in late, the bowling all-rounder played a stunning cameo, smashing 22* runs from just 5 balls. His powerful hitting gave Scotland the perfect finish. Leask was not done yet, as he produced a spell that completely changed the game. Italy was in a decent position at 113/3.
Bit Leask tore through the middle order. He picked up 4 wickets for just 17 runs, triggering a dramatic collapse as Italy was bowled out for 134. It was his first-ever four-wicket haul in T20I cricket. With this spell, he now has 55 wickets from 76 T20I matches, with a solid average of 20.67 and an economy rate of 7.55.
In T20 World Cups alone, Leask has taken 14 wickets. His figures of 4 for 17 are now the best by a Scotland bowler in T20 World Cup history. The only other Scottish player to achieve a four-wicket haul in the tournament is Josh Davey, who took 4/18 against Papua New Guinea in 2021.
