Scotland all-rounder Michael Leask brought out his inner Virat Kohli during the T20 World Cup 2026 clash with Italy at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata on Monday, February 9. Michael Leask was in full force, lighting up the group match with his emotion and raw intensity.
Michael Leask ignites Scotland’s charge for T20 World Cup 2026
A big twist came in the 14th over just before the drinks break in Kolkata. Ben Manenti was batting really well and looked ready to take the match away from Scotland. Oliver Davidson bowled a full ball and Manenti played a big shot trying to clear extra cover.
But the timing was not right, as the ball went straight instead of passing over the fielders and lost power in the air. Michael Jones, who was positioned at long-off, ran in quickly and took a clean catch under pressure. This was a huge wicket as Manenti had already scored 52 runs off just 31 balls with five fours and a six and Italy had real momentum at that point.
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Michael Leask goes into full Virat Kohli mode after the big wicket
As soon as the catch was taken, the Scotland players went into celebration. The wicket lifted the entire team; Oliver Davidson celebrates significant success with confidence. Then came the moment which caught everyone’s attention during the T20 World Cup 2026 match.
Adrenaline-filled Michael Leask showed raw passion and aggressive spirit as he gave Manenti a rousing 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 famously excited reactions on the field.
– Drizzyat12Kennyat8 (@45kennyat7PM) 9 February 2026
A warm farewell from Leask to Harry Manenti. pic.twitter.com/OwLkGIpbZl
– Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) 9 February 2026
Scotland dominate Italy at Eden Gardens
Meanwhile, it was a one-sided affair at the Eden Gardens as Scotland defeated Italy by 73 runs in the 7th match of the ongoing T20 World Cup 2026. Scotland came out with clear intent and produced a stellar performance with Michael Leask in unforgettable fashion.
The Scottish batsmen worked hard from the start and never slowed down, posting a mammoth score of 207 for 4 in 20 overs. This was the first time that an associate team crossed the 200-run mark in a T20 World Cup match. The last over was entirely in the name of Leask.
Also read: Scotland warns by rewriting the history of T20 World Cup
Leask’s late fireworks and record magic take over the match
Coming in late, the bowling all-rounder played a brilliant cameo and scored 22* off just 5 balls. His powerful hitting gave Scotland an excellent finish. Leask was not done yet, as he cast a spell that completely changed the game. Italy were in a good position at 113/3.
Bit Leask devastated the middle order. He took 4 wickets for only 17 runs, leading to a dramatic collapse as Italy were bowled out for 134 runs. This was his first four-wicket haul in T20I cricket. With this spell, he now has 55 wickets in 76 T20I matches at a solid average of 20.67 and an economy rate of 7.55.
Leask has taken 14 wickets in the T20 World Cup alone. His figures of 4 for 17 are now the best by a Scottish bowler in T20 World Cup history. The only other Scottish player to take four wickets in the tournament is Josh Davey, who took 4/18 against Papua New Guinea in 2021.
