England will start their ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 with a match against Nepal on Sunday afternoon at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, looking to make a strong impression in the tournament.
England plans to be aggressive from the start, aiming to put Nepal under pressure. Their batting lineup is filled with power hitters like Phil Salt, Jos Buttler, and Harry Brook, who can change the game quickly. With the batting-friendly conditions at Wankhede, England feels confident in chasing or setting a high total, but they must stay disciplined against Nepal’s spinners to build a solid foundation.
On the bowling side, England has a strong and experienced attack familiar with the Wankhede pitch. While the ground often sees high scores, it can provide help to spinners in the middle overs. England will likely turn to Adil Rashid and Liam Dawson during these phases to control the game and take wickets.
Nepal enters as the underdog but is motivated to show their progress. They have improved in T20 Cricket over the last two years and should not be underestimated. Their batsmen may find the flat pitch to their liking if they can settle in. For Nepal, the key will be to take early wickets and disrupt England’s strong top order.
ENG vs NEP, T20 World Cup 2026: Match details
- Date and Time: February 8; 3:00 pm IST / 9:30 am GMT
- Venue: Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai
ENG vs NEP, Head-to-Head Record in T20Is
This will be the first match between these two teams in T20 cricket.
Wankhede Stadium Pitch Report
The Wankhede Stadium is known for being a great place for batters, with true bounce and conditions that allow for good stroke-making. Fast bowlers might find some swing and seam early on, but this will usually decrease as the innings goes on. Once the pitch settles, batting becomes much easier.
With short boundaries and a flat surface, the venue could encourage Nepal’s batters to attack England’s pace bowlers. It is also a favorable setting for England’s power hitters, who will look to score big and establish their dominance right from the start.
Squads
Nepal: Kushal Bhurtel, Aasif Sheikh (wk), Rohit Paudel (c), Dipendra Singh Airee, Aarif Sheikh, Sompal Kami, Sundeep Jora, Karan KC, Gulsan Jha, Sandeep Lamichhane, Nandan Yadav, Basir Ahamad, Lalit Rajbanshi, Lokesh Bam, Sher Malla
England: Philip Salt, Jos Buttler (wk), Jacob Bethell, Tom Banton, Harry Brook (c), Sam Curran, Will Jacks, Liam Dawson, Jofra Archer, Adil Rashid, Luke Wood, Josh Tongue, Rehan Ahmed, Jamie Overton, Ben Duckett
ENG vs NEP, T20 World Cup 2026: Today’s Match Prediction
Case 1:
- England wins the toss and bowls first
- Nepal’s powerplay score: 40-50 (6 overs)
- Nepal’s total score: 150-160
Case 2:
- Nepal wins the toss and bowls first
- England’s powerplay score: 60-70 (6 overs)
- England’s total score: 200-210
Match result: England is expected to win.
