Why Jayden Seales is Not Playing Today in WI vs SCO T20 World Cup 2026 Match?

The second match of the T20 World Cup 2026 between West Indies and Scotland is is taking place in India’s most iconic ground, Eden Gardens, Kolkata. Right after the toss, skipper Shai Hope disclosed that the fast bowler Jayden Seales is not playing today.

The Windies team management decided to move forward with Shamar Joseph and Matthew Forde as their primary pace options, along with the experienced players like Jason Holder and Romario Shepherd, who are among the best all-rounders in the world.

Why Jayden Seales is Not Playing Today in Second Match?

Jayden Seales, Shamar Joseph, and Matthew Forde were competing for a spot of two seamers, which is one of the biggest reason behind why Jayden Seales is not playing today. In the end, the team chose to go with Joseph and Forde for this specific fixture. The reason for Jayden Seales' absence could be his recent performance in the T20Is, which has not so convincing.

Jayden Seales replacement for the WI vs SCO T20 World Cup is the young fast bowler Matthew Forde for this game. Forde is considered a consistent powerplay wicket-taker with a recent T20I with an economy of 8.98. He also significantly boosts his selection value with his batting; he recently scored a blistering 52 off 26 balls in a World Cup warm-up match against Afghanistan on February 4, 2026.

On the other hand, Shamar Joseph offers raw pace and has shown improved control in the shortest format, recently returning to form with a 1/23 against South Africa in late January. His career T20I strike rate of 17.65 is superior to Seales, making him a more reliable wicket-taking option in the middle overs.

Shamar Joseph and Matthew Forde Preferred Above Seales

Jayden Seales, one of the best bowlers in the world, has long been viewed as a key figure in the West Indies pace attack, but the combined performances of Shamar Joseph and Matthew Forde against Scotland are making his absence less noticeable. Joseph's economy rate of 6.50 stands in stark contrast to Seales' career T20I economy of 10.37, showcasing the control that the West Indies desperately needed.

What makes this partnership effective is how they complement each other. Joseph's disciplined bowling built pressure from one end, allowing Romario Shepherd to attack aggressively and claim a hat-trick. Meanwhile, Forde adds crucial lower-order batting depth that can be useful lower down the order, giving the team balance beyond just bowling ability.