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The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 Group C competition brings together two heavyweight white-ball teams under floodlights in Mumbai as England take on West Indies at the iconic Wankhede Stadium. England arrived with confidence after a narrow but valuable win against Nepal in their opening game, a game that tested their temperament and tactical discipline. They fought hard. They stayed calm. They finished better than their opponents.
West Indies come into this encounter with their momentum, following their maiden win against Scotland, which showcased their trademark power hitting and aggressive intent. Their batsmen attacked early and kept attacking. Their bowlers struck at key moments. It was the kind of performance that reminds the cricketing world of what West Indies can be when rhythm and confidence come together.
This match is crucial for early control of Group C. England will be looking to establish strength and move to the top of the table. West Indies will be looking to prove that their opening win was not a one-off statement but a long-term start to the tournament. Both teams know how brutal this format can be. One bad night changes everything.
For England it is about structure and consistency. For West Indies it is about independence and force. One side builds pressure gradually. The other side tries to break it.
| Format | Matches | ENG Won | WI Won | Tie | NR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| T20Is (Recent 5) | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Historically, England have dominated West Indies in recent T20I matches, winning most of the last five matches.
| No. | England | Role | West Indies | Role |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Harry Brook (c) | Middle-order batter | Shai Hope (c) | Wicketkeeper batter |
| 2 | Rehan Ahmed | Bowling all-rounder | Johnson Charles | Wicketkeeper batter |
| 3 | Jofra Archer | Bowler | Roston Chase | All-rounder |
| 4 | Tom Banton | Wicketkeeper batter | Matthew Forde | Bowler |
| 5 | Jacob Bethell | Batting all-rounder | Shimron Hetmyer | Middle-order batter |
| 6 | Jos Buttler | Wicketkeeper batter | Jason Holder | Bowling all-rounder |
| 7 | Sam Curran | All-rounder | Akeal Hosein | Bowler |
| 8 | Liam Dawson | All-rounder | Jayden Seales | Bowler |
| 9 | Ben Duckett | Top-order batter | Shamar Joseph | Bowler |
| 10 | Will Jacks | Batting all-rounder | Brandon King | Top-order batter |
| 11 | Jamie Overton | Bowling all-rounder | Gudakesh Motie | Bowler |
| 12 | Adil Rashid | Bowler | Rovman Powell | Middle-order batter |
| 13 | Phil Salt | Wicketkeeper batter | Sherfane Rutherford | Middle-order batter |
| 14 | Josh Tongue | Bowler | Quentin Sampson | Batter |
| 15 | Luke Wood | Bowler | Romario Shepherd | Bowling all-rounder |
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| Factor | Details |
|---|---|
| Stadium | Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai |
| Pitch Nature | Balanced with slight batter advantage |
| Batting Support | Good support once batsmen settle |
| New Ball Behaviour | Pacers can extract bounce early |
| Spin Factor | Spinners come into play in middle overs |
| Match Pattern | Balanced but high scores achievable |
| Average T20 Score Range | Around 160–180+ |
| Toss Strategy | Batting first can be ideal with early pace |
England have a batting line-up full of strokemakers who can dominate the powerplay and add pace at the end. Their all-round options give them flexibility in both innings and their bowling attack has experience across conditions and continents. They have played in finals. They have won trophies. They understand the rhythm of the tournament.
Their concern is to contain the extremely powerful hitters at the death and maintain discipline when the batsmen counter-attack. Loose overs can undo careful work. They must stay sharp.
Key players include Jos Buttler whose opening burst can open up the game. Harry Brook provides control and pace in the middle overs. Sam Curran contributes at every stage and thrives in moments of pressure. Adil Rashid remains vital with his spin in the middle while Jofra Archer’s pace adds danger with the new ball and in the close quarters.
West Indies have a strong batting line-up and fearless intent. Their line-up is designed to suppress the bowling attack and their pace resources give them the threat of taking wickets early and late. They have match-winners who don’t need much time to change the game.
Their concern lies in consistency and transitions in the middle overs where the collapse can occur if aggression is not balanced with determination. They cannot afford careless shots against the England attack.
Key players to watch include Shai Hope who anchors the innings and guides the tempo. Shimron Hetmyer provides devastating middle-order power. Rovman Powell adds finishing power while Jason Holder contributes experience and control. Romario Shepherd and Alzarri Joseph bring pace and aggression with the ball.
Due to the evening conditions and the surface conducive to stroke play, the captain may consider bowling first and chasing in the lights. Knowing the target helps in tight World Cup games and can help batting after fog.
| Team | Winning Chance (%) | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| England | 65% | Strong batting depth and recent World Cup form |
| West Indies | 35% | Explosive batting and confidence from earlier win |
Cricbites Prediction: England are favourites due to a mix of experience and batting, but West Indies have the power and talent to create pressure and can create an upset if conditions suit them.
This Group C clash is shaping up to be a contest between calculation and combustion. England look a bit stronger in terms of balance in pressure games, depth in parts and composure. If their hitters get time early, West Indies could suddenly take over.
Expect a fast-scoring Powerplay, tactical spin battles in the middle overs and a tense finale where execution decides everything. England should maintain the edge if they control key moments. West Indies remain dangerous whenever the momentum changes.
England will not underestimate their opponents, who have two T20 titles in the past. West Indies will attack with the ball first because that is how they play. As long as the boundaries keep flowing and wickets fall at the right time, the competition will be lively.
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This preview and prediction is based on available tournament information, past records, team strength and expected conditions. Cricket is still unpredictable. Results can vary due to toss decisions, weather, players’ form and individual talent on the day.
Harry Brook is the captain of England in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026.
Shai Hope is the captain of West Indies in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026.
England will face West Indies on 11 February 2026. This match is scheduled to start at 7:00 PM IST.
The ENG vs WI T20 World Cup 2026 match will be played at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, India.
This match is the 15th match of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026.
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