ENG vs ITA: ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 | Match Prediction, Squads, Live Score & Stats

• Fixture: England vs Italy
• Tournament: ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 – Group C
• Match: 29th Match, Group C
• Date & Time: 16 February 2026, 3:00 PM IST
• Venue: Eden Gardens, Kolkata, India

Match Preview

The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 is being played at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata, with England’s clash against Italy in Group C entering its final phase. Tom Banton’s match-winning innings and strong contributions from Jacob Bethell and Sam Curran helped England keep their hopes of reaching the Super Eights alive with a win over Scotland. They had earlier suffered a defeat against the West Indies but responded well to remain competitive.

Italy are making their maiden appearance in the T20 World Cup and have already created history by registering their first win in the T20 World Cup. They comprehensively defeated Nepal by ten wickets. The win boosted their confidence and showed that they can compete with higher-ranked teams when the conditions are right for them. They come to the Eden Gardens as real underdogs but without fear.

This encounter offers important opportunities for both the teams. England need to solidify their place in the Super Eights. Italy will be looking to change the predictions and show in their first World Cup campaign that their debut was no fluke.

ENG vs ITA – Head to Head (T20Is)

Note: England and Italy have never played a T20 International match against each other before the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026. This match in Kolkata on 16 February 2026 will be their first T20I encounter.

ENG vs ITA – Squad List

Pitch Report – Eden Gardens, Kolkata

Team Analysis

England

England have depth in their batting, with big hitters like Harry Brook and Tom Banton and Sam Curran capable of scoring quickly at any position. Their bowling variety includes Adil Rashid’s spin in the middle overs and Jofra Archer’s pace which pose problems for any batting lineup. Their recent win over Scotland has restored confidence after the defeat to the West Indies.

Their concern is the inconsistency in their powerplay batting which was shown earlier in the tournament. Phil Salt and Jos Buttler are yet to find consistently impressive form in matches.

Key players to watch include Tom Banton who is already in form with big scores in this World Cup. Harry Brook is the captain and a key middle-order run-scorer who leads by example. Adil Rashid is a strike spinner who creates wicket-taking opportunities in the crucial middle overs. Sam Curran is an impressive all-rounder who effectively stabilizes both the batting and bowling departments.

Italy

Italy came out on top with confidence after a ten-wicket win over Nepal, which surprised many observers after the tournament. Anthony and Justin Mosca gave a strong batting start that led to the victory. Krishan Kalugamage has been effective with the ball in recent matches.

Their concern is their lack of experience against top T20 teams at this level of the competition. England’s strong batting lineup will test their bowling depth much more than Nepal’s.

One of the key players to watch is Anthony Mosca, a dangerous middle-order batsman with impressive scores in recent times. Justin Mosca opens strongly and partners effectively with Anthony at the top. Krishan Kalugamage is Italy’s leading wicket-taker and most dangerous bowling option.

Toss Prediction

Eden Gardens provides a batting environment in the afternoon sun that is conducive to stroke-makers. The captain can opt to bat first and set a big target. This works well to put the scoreboard pressure on the chasing team on the field. Both captains know that Eden Gardens prefers teams that bat first and make big scores.

Cricbites Match Prediction

Cricbites Prediction: England will win, thanks to their depth and experience, while Italy’s youthful confidence makes them a dangerous dark horse in this match.

Final Thoughts

The match between England and Italy in Group C holds historic significance for Italian cricket. England will use their experience from big matches and their powerful batting line-up to secure a crucial win in the Super Eight qualifiers. Italy will look to continue their impressive debut campaign with some brilliant cricket that has already earned them respect and admiration around the world.

Expect England to bat aggressively in the Powerplay. Expect Adil Rashid to dominate the middle overs against Italy’s developing batsmen. Expect Italy to fight hard as they have nothing to lose and everything to gain from this amazing World Cup debut.

Read More: AFG vs UAE: ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 | Match Prediction, Squads, Live Score & Stats

Disclaimer

This preview and prediction is based on verified match information and recent form and player trends and pitch expectations. Cricket results may vary due to toss decisions, weather and individual talent on the day of the match.

FAQs: Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. Who is the captain of England in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026?

Harry Brook is the captain of England in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026.

Q2. Who is the captain of Italy in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026?

Van Madsen is the captain of Italy in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026.

Q3. When and at what time will the ENG vs ITA match be played?

England will face Italy on 16 February 2026. This match is scheduled to start at 3:00 PM IST.

Q4. Where is the match being played?

The ENG vs ITA T20 World Cup 2026 match will be played at Eden Gardens, Kolkata, India.

Q5. What is the match number of ENG vs ITA in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026?

This match is the 29th match of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 group stage.