Overview:
England have a formidable spin attack on a wicket that traditionally favors spinners. They will also need a strong win to boost their net run rate and keep Super 8 hopes alive.
The 29th match of the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 will feature England and Italy at Eden Gardens in Kolkata, with the match starting at 3:00 PM IST.
Harry Brook’s England have yet to find their best form in the tournament. After narrowly defeating Nepal by four runs and suffering a 30-run loss to the West Indies, they bounced back with a crucial win over Scotland to keep Super Eight hopes alive.
Italy will step onto the field full of confidence after registering its first T20 World Cup victory, defeating Nepal by 10 wickets. The defeat against Scotland is behind them as Harry Manenti’s side chase another monumental result to stay in the Super Eight hunt.
ENG vs ITA Match Details
| Fixture | ENG vs ITA : 29th Match, T20 World Cup 2026 |
| Date | February 16th, 2026 (Monday) |
| Time | 3:00 PM IST |
| Toss time | 2:30 PM IST |
| Ground | Eden Gardens, Kolkata |
ENG vs ITA head-to-head records in T20I
This will be the first-ever meeting between the two sides in cricket.
Pitch Report
Eden Gardens is set to host an exciting T20 World Cup clash, with early bounce favoring the pacers while the surface slows later, giving spinners a role. With a fast outfield, totals above 180 are competitive, but a single lapse could spark a collapse.
ENG vs ITA Probable Best Performers
Key batter to watch out for: Jacob Bethell
Jacob Bethell has been a key contributor for England across all three games, scoring 120 runs at an average of 40 and a strike rate of 139.54. The left-hander should enjoy batting at Eden Gardens, where the surface offers consistent bounce and the ball comes onto the bat nicely.
Key bowler to watch out for: Jofra Archer
Jofra Archer proved unplayable for Scotland’s top order and will pose an even bigger challenge for Italy, who aren’t accustomed to facing pacers regularly clocking 145 kmph.
ENG vs ITA Match Prediction ICC T20 World Cup 2026
England and Italy will meet for the first time in T20Is at Eden Gardens. England have a formidable spin attack on a wicket that traditionally favors spinners. They will also need a strong win to boost their net run rate and keep Super 8 hopes alive.
ENG vs ITA Probable XIs
England: Philip Salt, Jos Buttler (WK), Harry Brook (C), Sam Curran, Will Jacks, Jacob Bethell, Tom Banton, Jamie Overton, Jofra Archer, Liam Dawson, Adil Rashid.
Italy: Justin Mosca, Anthony Mosca, Marcus Campopiano, JJ Smuts, Harry Manenti (C), Ben Manenti, Jaspreet Singh, Grant Stewart, Gian Meade (WK), Crishan Kalugamage, Ali Hasan.